“Jo, will you tell me where you were? What happened to Mark? I’ve been worried sick over you ever since the store closed and you left town.”
And there it was—the question she’d been dreading. “All I can say is that I was living in the Oklahoma City area.”
“So close?”
The disappointment in her sister’s eyes made Jo squirm. Jamie crawled over to her and pulled up, standing beside her chair. He mumbled some baby talk, which Jo assumed meant he wanted her to hold him.
Lara rose and crossed to her. “Let me take Beth. It looks like someone needs you.”
She handed the baby to her sister then picked up her son, who felt so heavy compared to the baby. “I think he’s ready for some lunch, isn’t that right, son?” She tickled his belly, receiving a giggle.
“If you ever want to talk about things, I’m always willing to listen. Sometimes it helps to share and get another person’s perspective. I don’t care what happened or what you did. You’re my sister, and I love you, no matter what.”
Jo nodded, warmed more than she cared to admit by Lara’s comment. She wasn’t fooling her sister by pretending to be distracted by Jamie. Once again, she was running away.
Would there ever come a time when she’d learn to stand her ground and not flee?
Chapter 10
Baron stood with the rest of the congregation at the minister’s request. After a short blessing upon the church members, the minister finished his prayer with a hearty, “Amen. I hope to see all y’all next week.”
Baron picked up his hat from the seat, placed it on his head, and looked toward the back of the church. Two weeks had passed since Baron last saw Gabe Coulter in church. The Indian girl was with him today but not the pretty blond. Had she been a relative simply visiting the family—or perhaps she was a neighbor?
“Excuse me.” He worked his way through the crowd, hoping to catch Gabe before he left for home.
Outside, he scanned the area and found the man talking with someone else. Baron moved in his direction, squeezing past chatting churchgoers until he reached Gabe’s side. Gabe glanced his way and nodded then finished talking with Mr. Hemphill, a local business owner. When Mr. Hemphill walked off, Gabe turned to face him and held out his hand. “How are you doing?”
Baron shook it. “Fine. Business is growing.”
“I’m glad to hear it. Lara’s been making a list, so I reckon I’ll be in one of these days.”
Baron nodded. “If you need me to, I’m happy to open the store for you after church. I imagine getting to town isn’t always easy.”
“I appreciate that. We do stay busy, especially with a new baby in the house.” Gabe beamed proudly.
“So the rumor is true.” His mind scrambled to remember if the blond had been with child. Surely he would have noticed such a thing. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks, but what’s the frown for?”
Baron rubbed his hand across his jaw, more than a bit embarrassed for what he’d been thinking. “It’s just that I saw a blond woman with you two weeks ago, but she didn’t look—” He waved his hand in front of his abdomen, feeling his ears burn. “You know.”
Gabe looked confused; then his eyes sparked and he laughed. “That’s my wife’s sister. She’s stayin’ with us for a while. Lara—my wife—has been too much in the family way to travel as far as church for the past few months. You’ll probably get to meet her and our little Lizzie next month.”
The relief Baron felt at learning the blond wasn’t Gabe’s wife was so overwhelming, it took him off guard. He struggled for something to say. “So … you have a daughter. That’s nice.”
“It is, especially since we have a son already.” Gabe smiled. “Hey, I’ve got an idea. Why don’t you ride out and join us for Sunday dinner? I can show you my place, and you can meet my wife and daughter.”
Pursing his lips, Baron shook his head even though he wanted to agree. If he went, he’d get to see the mysterious blond and learn more about her—find out if she was married. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea, not since your wife so recently—you know.”
“She won’t care. She’s doing wonderfully. You’d hardly know she gave birth two weeks ago if we didn’t have a new baby.”
Shuffling his feet, Baron watched the people walking to their buggies and wagons. Having babies wasn’t a normal topic of conversation, especially for two men—one of whom was a bachelor.
The blond boy he’d seen with Gabe rushed up to him. “Pa, c’mon. I’m starvin’.”
Gabe struggled with a smile and gave the boy a somewhat stern expression. “Mind your manners, son. Mr. Hillborne and I were talkin’.”
The boy’s cheeks turned red and he ducked his head. “Sorry. But I’m dyin’ to eat, Pa.”
Gabe waved toward the buggy where the Indian girl quietly sat. “Go on. I’ll be right there.” He turned back to Baron. “You comin’ or not? I’m about as anxious to get back as Michael is, but for a different reason. It’s the first time I’ve been gone from home since Lizzie arrived.”
He shrugged. “I’d love to, if you’re sure I won’t be in the way.”
“I’m sure.” Gabe clapped him on the shoulder.
“A home-cooked meal will taste good. I’ll need to rent a horse from the livery, though.”
“All right. I’ll get my buggy and meet you there.”
Excitement coursed through Baron as he jogged to the livery. He’d get to spend the afternoon with the mysterious blond, whose name he still didn’t know. Lara must have two sisters. One had been married to Mark, but Gabe had said she was gone, and the family didn’t know where. The woman in the store had to be the other sister. She certainly was pretty enough to have gained his brother’s attention. He blew out a frustrated breath. For all he knew, the woman was married. She did have a child. He was getting excited for no reason.
He paid the fee for the rental horse then led the animal outside and found Gabe waiting.
“Why don’t you tie him to the back and ride with us?”
The Indian girl sat in the rear seat with Michael and looked less than thrilled to have him along, but Baron did as his friend asked. The buggy creaked and leaned to one side as he lugged his big body up and onto the bench.
Gabe clicked to the horse, and they started moving.
They chatted about the store and what his plans were for it; then they talked about Gabe’s ranch. Gabe told him how he met his wife, even the part about killing her husband in a dark alley when the man tried to rob him.
Baron was a bit stunned at Gabe’s tale of being a gambler and killing someone. God certainly had changed the man. Maybe there was still hope for Mark to change his ways, although he’d be mighty surprised if that ever happened. He knew God could change Mark, but he had trouble envisioning his brother yielding to God’s guiding hand.
They crested a hill, and spread out before them was a better than average two-story house, a big barn, and several other small buildings. He let out a long whistle through his teeth. “This is your place?”
“Yep. Won the land in the rush of ’89. It wasn’t nothing but virgin prairie then.”
“You sure have proved it up well.”
Gabe nodded. “I also bought out two of my neighbors’ claims, so we own close to a square mile of property.”
No wonder he was doing so well. Baron suspected Gabe must have had some money stashed before the land run in order to have built such a nice home. Many farmers in the area were still struggling to make a go of things. Gabe had been smart to take up ranching instead of trying to farm the hot, dry land. Everyone needed horses.
As they pulled up in front of the house, Baron realized two things: the girl in back hadn’t said a single word on the long trip to the house—and he still didn’t know the name of Gabe’s sister-in-law.
Jamie sat in a high chair and banged on the table with a spoon as Jo mashed the potatoes. Gabe and the children would be home from church anytime, and Lara wanted to have a
hot meal ready for them. Beth had other ideas, so Lara was upstairs feeding her. Jo was left with the overwhelming task of not burning their Sunday dinner. And she needed to check on Grandpa, who had taken to his bed with another bout of malaria.
Sweat trickled down her temple, and she stepped back from the stove to wipe it. Her apron looked as if she’d worn it all week instead of to prepare one meal. She added a pinch of salt to the potatoes and started mashing again. She eyed the fancy stove with its high shelf and double compartments for baking as well as a large reservoir that Lara had called a water jacket. The kitchen had never been her domain, not even at the bordello. How had Lara made meals when they’d lived at the soddy in Caldwell where she had cooked over an open fire?
Cooking definitely wasn’t her favorite task, but she was a mother now and needed to learn so that she could prepare meals for Jamie and Sarah. At least Sarah knew how to make basic meals, since she’d assisted the cook.
Jamie screeched at the same time the water on the black-eyed peas boiled over. Jo jumped, dropping the masher into the pot. She grabbed the corner of her apron to protect her hand and moved the peas to a back burner. A quick glance at the clock that sat on a shelf told her it was time to remove the ham from the oven.
The spoon Jamie had been playing with sailed through the air, hit a chair, and clattered onto the floor. He squealed. Jo carried a plate of sliced bread to the table, tore off a corner of one piece, and gave it to him. He smiled, slapping his empty hand against the table as he shoved the treat into his mouth. She watched him for a moment as he enjoyed the bread. Her son did love to eat.
She was hungry, too. Oh! The ham. She rushed to the oven, yanked open the door, and searched for a towel. Fragrant scents wafted through the kitchen, making her stomach gurgle. She hoisted the heavy pan out and set it on top of the stove then closed the oven. Lara had prepared and seasoned the ham, but Jo still felt a sense of accomplishment. After removing the masher and placing a lid on the potatoes to keep them from cooling, she glanced around to see what else needed to be done. Lara had suggested redeye gravy would taste good with the meal, but she had no idea how to fix that.
Footsteps sounded on the porch, signaling the family had arrived home—just in time. Jamie squealed, excited the others were back. Sweat trickled down Jo’s bodice, and she turned away from the door to scratch it. She probably should go ahead and slice the meat, but she’d wait until she knew how much longer Lara would be.
“I built the place with the help of my ranch hands and another crew I hired.”
“It’s incredibly nice and well built.”
Jo spun at a man’s unfamiliar voice. Gabe brought home company? Smoothing some sweaty wisps of hair, she glanced down, horrified at how she looked. Three colors of stains marred her apron.
Michael hurried into the kitchen and went straight to the pail reserved for washing. “Smells great, Aunt Jo! I’m starved.”
“When are you not? Who’s with your pa?” She reached for the ties and pulled, just as Gabe—she gasped—and Baron Hillborne ambled into the room. Jo stared at the man, then at Jamie. There was no way to snatch up her son and get him out of the room. Mr. Hillborne had already seen him. She had a feeling this day would come, but she hadn’t expected it so soon. She could only hope that the kindness she’d seen at the store in Baron Hillborne’s eyes meant he was a different kind of man than his brother.
“I believe you two have met.” Gabe’s expression bordered on a smirk. “Baron Hillborne, this is my sister-in-law, Joline … uh …” His gaze shot to hers as he obviously struggled with her last name.
“Joline is fine.” She narrowed her gaze at him. Had he deliberately set her up so that she had to talk with Mark’s brother?
“I’m … uh … gonna run upstairs and check on Lara and the baby. Have a seat, Baron. I’ll be right back.” Gabe shot out of the room as if she were chasing him with a long-bladed knife, as she was sorely tempted to do.
Baron stood just inside the kitchen, looking quite unsure of himself. Jo grabbed another set of silverware and a napkin and set a place next to Michael’s. “You’re welcome to sit here.”
“Thank you, but I believe I’ll remain standing until the rest of the family arrives.”
Jo nodded and glanced at Michael. “Where’s Sarah?”
The boy shrugged and snagged a slice of bread, quickly buttering it. “She ran upstairs as soon as we got home.”
Jo was certain the poor girl must have felt terribly uncomfortable on the long ride home with three males in the buggy and no other women. She glanced at Baron, wishing he looked less like his brother. The similarities made it difficult for her to relax around him. “I hope you’ll excuse me while I get the food dished up.”
He glanced past her to the stove, his forehead crinkled as if he were wrestling with a thought. “Is there something I can do to help?”
“You gotta wash up first,” Michael offered. “Ma don’t let no one help in the kitchen ’less they wash first.” He pointed to the bucket that sat on a small table near the kitchen door. “Over there.”
Mortified at her nephew’s command, Jo wished a hole would open up and swallow her and Jamie.
As if he didn’t mind being ordered around by a child, Baron crossed the room and washed his hands. Jo busied herself by dishing up the potatoes, but when she turned to take them to the table, Baron was right there. She stiffened and looked up, not sure what she expected.
He smiled and glanced at the bowl. “May I?”
“Um … sure.” She handed it to him, making sure their fingers didn’t touch. She turned back to the stove, sucked in a deep breath to calm her shakiness, and removed the lid from the ham.
“That smells good.”
“It sure does. Hurry, Aunt Jo. My belly’s rubbin’ against my backbone.” Michael hopped up from the table and scurried over to the stove and looked in the pot.
“Shorty, could you please tell everyone I’m dishing up the meal?”
“Sure!” The boy raced from the room and thudded up the stairs, with Jamie fussing that he was gone.
Jo realized too late that she was now alone with Baron Hillborne. She glanced at him, and he was staring at Jamie. She didn’t want to tell him about her relation to his brother—about his relationship to Jamie—but there was no getting around it now. She would have words with Gabe later.
Baron glanced at her, eyebrows furrowed. “Could I ask you something?”
Heart jolting, Jo nodded as she dished up the black-eyed peas. She spilled some juice on the counter and tightened her grip on the quivering spoon. Right now, she wished she’d never come to her sister’s house.
“Gabe told me that his wife’s sister was married to my brother, Mark, and he mentioned her name being Jo.” He rubbed his hand over his jaw. “He introduced you as Joline. Am I safe in assuming you go by Jo at times?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“You were married to Mark?”
“Yes.”
His gaze shot to Jamie, and Jo knew he’d made the connection. “This is probably encroaching the bounds of polite conversation, but I have to know—is that boy Mark’s son?”
Blowing out a loud sigh, Jo closed her eyes and nodded. Whatever came from his knowing would come, and she was helpless to stop it.
Baron gasped, and when she looked at him, she saw his blue eyes had filled with wonder. “That means I’m an uncle.”
“What’s his name?”
“It’s James, but I call him Jamie.”
Unfathomable joy billowed through Baron as he stared at the child—his nephew. The boy looked a lot like Jo, but he thought he could see Mark in him, too. As far as he knew, Mark wasn’t aware he had a son—and maybe that was for the best. Abigail would go on the warpath and run the family name into ruin if she learned about Jamie. He wasn’t sure how Mark would react.
Wouldn’t his mother be delighted to hear the news? Baron frowned. No, she wouldn’t, not when she learned the child was illegitimate
. There were numerous people who would be happy to bring down the Hillborne family if they learned of the boy. And yet, Jamie was their blood relative. As thrilled as he was to be related to the boy, he needed to tread carefully. Would Jo expect him to help her? Not that he wasn’t willing …
“Why are you scowling?” Jo crossed her arms, glaring at him.
Footsteps sounded on the stairs as Baron rubbed the back of his neck. “We need to talk, but not now.”
“I have nothing to talk to you about.”
“Maybe not, but there are things I need to tell you.” He couldn’t blame her for being apprehensive, not after she’d lived with his brother. Who knew what Mark had done to the woman? He remembered a pretty brunette who’d come to the estate, badly beaten. She claimed Mark had done the deed and threatened to run down the family name if he didn’t help her. At his father’s orders, he’d paid for the woman to see a doctor and then gave her enough money to leave town and get a fresh start somewhere else.
He glanced at Jo, whose back was to him at the moment. Even with her hair kinking around her red face and wearing that stained apron, he could see what had attracted his brother to her. It wasn’t just her pretty face, but that fiery spark in her gaze. Hadn’t Gabe said she’d only been sixteen when his brother first charmed her? That had to have been just before the land run in ’89. That meant she was only about twenty now. Gabe was right when he said she looked mature for her age. He would have guessed she was closer to twenty-three, but she wasn’t. That meant she was nine years younger than he, not that it mattered.
Gabe walked in, beaming, with a lovely woman on his arm, who somewhat resembled Jo, except she had darker blond hair and eyes less vivid than Jo’s blue ones. Both women were the same height, about five foot five, he guessed.
“This is my wife, Lara.” Gabe’s wide smile sent a shaft of unexpected jealousy coursing through Baron.
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