by Annie Boone
He soon realized that the meals they shared on weekends and the walks and evening talks were what he looked forward to each week most of all. The glances during the Sunday sermon made it next to impossible to keep his mind on what the pastor was saying.
Delilah was everywhere on his mind, and Ethan woke up every morning thinking about her. After a while, he knew he needed to do something drastic to make sure she stayed in his life. Delilah was a wonderful young woman, calm and collected and clever. And of course she was beautiful in every way. Though he hadn’t thought ahead into his future, suddenly a future with her was all he could think about.
The next day during his lunch break, he wandered down the street, aimlessly thinking about the woman he’d fallen in love with. When he looked up, he realized he was standing in front of the mercantile. He went in and went to the counter where he asked the shop keeper if he had any jewelry he could look at. The man smiled and assured him he had a selection he’d like.
“Well, let’s see it, then.” Ethan smiled nervously and stepped to the section of counter where the shop keeper indicated. Then he breathed out loudly and told the man what he was interested in.
Chapter Twelve
The young woman glanced at her fingernails and wrinkled her nose. The dirt was embedded in them so deeply that it would take a week’s worth of scrubbing to get them clean again. Wiping her forehead, she leaned back with her face in the sun. It felt as though every summer only grew hotter and hotter. Rachel Cullen took a deep breath and glanced around the garden.
It had crooked rows and was too big for her liking. This wasn’t the kind of work she liked, anyway. She looked down at her dirty dress with disdain and felt the ache in her back and legs. She glanced around in the open yard and wondered again why she was doing this, especially alone. Just yesterday she had spent the afternoon with Delilah out here pulling weeds and picking, but today she was on a picnic.
A picnic, instead of helping around in the garden.
She shook her head in disbelief. They weren’t even a good match. Mr. Townsend was handsome and charming, but Delilah Waterford was much too quiet for someone like him. It was ridiculous that they were even talking to each other. What in the world could they share a conversation about?
Rachel frowned as she stared at the pile of weeds beside her. Delilah didn’t even deserve him. She had been in town for two weeks and she already understood that. Why couldn’t anyone else see it? Especially Mrs. Jessup, since she was supposed to be in charge of matching them. But the woman hummed and danced about so much that Rachel wasn’t certain that her guardian was paying attention to what was going on.
“Two more weeds and then I’m calling it a day,” she told herself decidedly. This would do. Glancing around her, she found two small plants that were easy to grab. She plucked them up and placed them in the pile with the others on her left. After dragging herself up onto her feet, Rachel tossed them in the bucket and put them away.
She thought about how Ethan Townsend had arrived to fetch Delilah for the picnic. He was dressed up; he had paused to make sure he was clean and prepared. From behind a window she had noticed how he took care to offer the girl his arm even when it wasn’t necessary. And Delilah, too young and naïve, had hardly bothered to brush her hair that morning. Rachel knew this from watching the girl help Mrs. Jessup in the kitchen at breakfast.
It was more than annoying to see how she didn’t understand how much effort he was putting in. Ethan deserved someone who did notice those little things. Someone who ensured she was always at her best for his calls. Someone, Rachel supposed, like herself.
After scrubbing furiously at her hands and fingernails in the hallway basin, she paused in her bedroom to tidy up. There was a mirror in the chest that she picked up and carefully inspected herself in. If Mr. Townsend returned, she wanted to show that she could always look her best. And Rachel was certain she had been noticed by him once or twice before, so he wasn’t blind. He was just a little confused.
The afternoon was waning and Mrs. Jessup had most likely already started on supper. Just the thought of a delicious meal in that kitchen again made her stomach growl. Her thoughts wandered back to Delilah and Ethan however as she wandered out into the hallway to return to the main house.
Delilah’s door was cracked open, like an invitation beckoning her forward. Rachel Cullen frowned and glanced around, having been certain that the girl wasn’t to return for a good hour or so. Curious, she knocked on the door and waited. But there was no answer.
“Miss Waterford?” She asked lightly, thinking of an excuse if the girl really was there. There was always work to do around the house so surely there was something to be done. But that skipped out of her mind when no other voice rang out. No one was inside the room.
What was Miss Waterford really like? The room was neat and bare with not much to make the room her own. Rachel frowned, unable to believe that a girl owned nothing. “Everyone has a few secrets,” she grumbled to herself and that’s when she started to snoop around. There had to be something off with that girl, just enough that she might be able to point out the flaw to Ethan so he might pay more attention to someone else more proper to court.
“There must be something,” the young woman murmured, shuffling through the wardrobe and her clothes. Delilah had very little to wear, however, from what she could find. Which made sense as she’d seen her wear the same clothes over and over. She was about to give up when she got on her knees and glanced underneath the low bed. A small box was almost lost in the shadows. “What’s this?” She grinned and reached in to pull it out.
At first, it looked like nothing important. A faded shoe box containing a few pieces of folded papers. Handwritten, the lot of them. Wrinkling her nose, Rachel grumbled to herself how she didn’t like to read. But she was curious and knowing she didn’t have a lot of time, the girl began to skim the letters.
As she read, she realized it was more than nothing. Miss Delilah Waterford wasn’t as innocent as she pretended to be, apparently. Not only did she have family still in Philadelphia, but clearly she hadn’t told her Mr. Ethan Townsend a word about them. There were several children- three? Four? More? They were sending letters to her but she’d never said a word about them.
Chuckling to herself, the young woman picked out a few and stuffed them in her pockets. Hurriedly she shuffled the letters back into their folds in the box and tried to fluff them up as though they weren’t suddenly missing a few. It had to be something, she determined, something to pull Ethan out of the grips of the young woman who didn’t deserve him. If she could just tell him everything she had just learned… Rachel Cullen shook her head with a grin. It was certainly worth a shot.
She practically skipped to the kitchen where Susannah Jessup was tending the pot. Beef stew, from the smell of it. The other blonde in the room, though she was much to pale for Rachel’s liking, turned and beamed at her. “I was just about to come looking for you. I was hoping you might tend to the cornbread this evening. What do you think?”
“I think that would be lovely,” Rachel fluffed her hair and started over to the table where most of the supplies were already gathered. Straightening her dress and ensuring the apron didn’t rustle the hidden papers in her pocket, she squared her shoulders and got to work.
The front of the house was on the other side of the wall, and she couldn’t see the front door. If she stood right at the far end of the table and glanced to the side, she could just see into the front sitting room but she couldn’t see through any of the windows. Trying not to be too frustrated, Rachel concentrated and listened as hard as she could for the sound of the cart returning.
“Oh, just a moment.” She hurried to the front, but the sound was just Lemondrop and one of the farm hands walking from the field to the barn. Rachel frowned at the horse and the farm hand as she returned to the kitchen.
“Something on your mind, dear?” Mrs. Jessup glanced at her.
But she didn’t look back. “Oh,
nothing,” Rachel shook her head and vowed to try harder. She kept her breathing shallow and tried to block out the other woman’s humming as she listened for Delilah and Ethan to return.
The second time ended up being a cart, but not the one she wanted. Lucas spotted her from the window and tipped his hat as he led his horse and a cart filled with empty crates from the cabbage he must have sold that morning around the back. Rachel only frowned again and returned to pouring the cornbread mixture into a skillet. Placing it into the oven, she wiped her hands on her apron and smoothed it out again. She took a deep breath and walked casually to the front windows again.
On the third attempt, she was rewarded with what she’d been looking for. “It’s Miss Waterford,” Rachel announced over her shoulder as she hurried closer to the window. “She’s finally returned.”
“Just in time for supper, how wonderful,” Susannah called out. And she might have said something more, but Rachel didn’t hear. She was too busy primping her hair to ensure the curls were still there after the heat in the kitchen. Then Rachel pinched her cheeks and smoothed her apron again. Then she waited, watching, until they pulled up at the house.
Ethan Townsend was such a gentleman. He was ready to help a woman at every step of the way. She sighed, just watching him move about as he escorted Delilah up to the porch. Rachel took a deep breath and opened the door, ready for her performance.
“There you are, Delilah. Mrs. Jessup and I were wondering when you might return. And good evening, Mr. Townsend,” she fluttered her eyelashes. “It’s perfectly wonderful to see you again.”
Delilah nodded and glanced at Ethan who pulled his hat off for her. “It’s a pleasure to see you as well,” he offered. “I hope you’re doing well, Miss Cullen?”
She twirled her skirts playfully, making sure her curves were at their best angles for him. Rachel watched him carefully, her heart pounding. “I’m quite well, yes, thank you. You’re too kind to ask. Delilah, Mrs. Jessup was hoping you could help her with the carrots.”
Delilah’s eyes widened and her jaw dropped. Rachel wondered if she had any idea that her hair had gone flat or that she simply looked plain.
“Oh, I had no idea we were so late. I had best be of service. Mr. Townsend, until next time?” Delilah asked.
Rachel wondered if this farewell could be any more awkward. Did the girl know she was only in the way of a bigger plan?
“Of course,” Ethan nodded with a polite smile. They watched Delilah hurry inside. “Goodbye,” he called out, and then paused as he looked at Rachel. She heard him gulp as he realized they were alone. It was about time. “I had best be off,” he offered. “I wish you a good evening. Good night.”
But he wasn’t getting out of this just yet. The timing was too perfect. “Wait, please,” she beckoned, outstretching a hand to touch his shoulder. “Please, sir? I have something I’d like to talk to you about. Rather,” she spoke slowly, watching his eyes meet hers. Rachel paused to glance behind her before creeping closer. “I need to tell you something about your Miss Waterford.”
Just as she had hoped, his brow creased and he glanced towards the house. “I’m sorry, but I don’t have time to tarry. I should be off, before it’s late. Pardon my—”
“But it’s urgent,” she added quickly. Rachel held her breath deliberately as she watched Ethan consider his options. One foot on the bottom step, he glanced towards his horse and then back to the house before meeting her gaze. It was hesitant, but she had him. She knew it.
Her voice came out soft and husky as she carefully pulled out the letters she had in her pocket. “Mr. Townsend, I would hate for anything to happen to you, especially when I know you’re such a gentleman. Honest, I wouldn’t bother if you I wasn’t concerned. But I’m afraid you’re being misled by Delilah.
“These are letters she’s been receiving from Philadelphia, you see, because apparently she has family back there. It was a pure accident that I even came across these, sir, because I would never, ever want to suspect anything so false.” She paused dramatically, making her eyes as wide as they would go. “But she’s been holding something from you. And from the sound of it, she wasn’t going to tell you until after she made you marry her.”
Ethan’s frown deepened as his gaze shot to the letters. “What?” He demanded and followed her fingers as she pointed out a few key words. “Children? I don’t understand. Who are they?”
“I believe they’re her siblings,” Rachel murmured soberly, dropping her gaze to the ground. Straightening up into a modest pose, she sighed. “I think she’s planning to have them brought here, to Rocky Ridge. Why, she expects you to marry her and then she’ll bring over her entire family and expect you to take care of them. As if that’s your responsibility.”
He blinked and looked away. “But that’s…”
She nodded furiously and pushed the matter further. “Wrong! That’s what it is. Wrong and rude and hurtful! Can you believe it? Delilah was going to take you for everything you’re worth. It’s terrible! She thought she could play you and use you like you’re only a toy! She’s trying to hurt you, Ethan, and I couldn’t just let her do this to you. You don’t deserve this.”
“No,” he growled to himself and glared at the letters in her hands. “No, I don’t.” The man took a deep breath and turned away. “I, um… I have to go. Good evening.”
Rachel smirked as she watched him stomp to his cart. His face was red and she could see that look in his eyes. Why, most certainly this was everything she had needed. The jealousy that had been making her stomach all knotted began to uncurl as she watched him leave.
The young man would just need a day or two to get over it, the blonde decided. “And I’ll be here to support him,” she added and carefully slipped the letters away.
Chapter Thirteen
Can you believe it? Can you believe it? Can you believe it?
Rachel Cullen’s words echoed in his head over and over on the entire ride home. He clenched the reins with all his strength, leaving lines and prints on his palms by the time he finally reached home. His heart pounded and he could hardly think from the tornado of feelings scrambling around in his mind.
He jerked the horse free of the harness and waved a hand to the animal to go away. His mind spun as he tried to think clearly. But it was difficult. She had shown him the letters, solid proof that there were other people in her life. Children. And that she intended to bring them here the moment she was wed.
Delilah had certainly thought ahead, he grumbled.
As he tried to get the wagon into the back by the pasture gate, a wheel got stuck beside a rock. Grumbling, the young man shoved at the cart for several minutes before angrily kicking it. He hissed when it didn’t budge but it hurt his toes. Trying not to swear, he hit the cart with a fist but that did little good.
“Goodness gracious. What is happening here? Is something wrong?” The door opened and his mother called to him. “Ethan?”
“It’s fine!” He threw his hands up in the air. “Just fine, Mother!” But even in his anger, he knew using that tone with her was wrong. Groaning, Ethan rubbed his forehead and managed in a more even tone, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to… I’m just tired.”
He cut it short at that. But his mood didn’t soften by any means as he put the cart away and came inside. Kicking off his boots, Ethan announced that he wasn’t hungry and went to his room. He tugged at his tie, throwing it down and pulling off his jacket and back and forth he went. The young man spent the rest of the evening pacing about his room as his emotions went from despair to anger and back again.
The night was a long one as he was consumed by his dark thoughts. Ethan tossed and turned, trying to sleep but his mind wouldn’t stop racing in circles. Back and forth he went, trying to reason with himself before realizing that the relationship he had enjoyed so much was only made up of lies. There were so many unanswered questions, so much that he didn’t understand.
How could she do this to him? How co
uld Delilah have lied? To willfully deceive him, after everything they had shared? He had told her so many secrets—he had even told her a little about Elizabeth. Bitter anger clung to him like a cold sweat. It made his blood boil the more he thought about it. The night passed in a dark haze with clenched fists.
When dawn broke, he already knew what he was going to do. He had to go talk to her, he had to confront her. Everything was off between them. Why, he’d have to return the ring. An ugly feeling crept into his stomach, unable to believe this was happening all over again.
He should have known better than to get involved with another woman. Ethan had been blinded and let history repeat itself. How had another woman betrayed him? It made no sense that this could happen twice. All those seemingly special moments were ruined, a dark stain on his memory. They had swallowed up too much of his time.
It was killing him to wait. Ethan was washed, combed, and dressed before his parents rose for the day. He paced in his room, listening to them talk and waiting for them to move on. Surely once his father went off for his job, Ethan decided, it was late enough in the day to go visit the Jessup’s. His job would wait for him to get this taken care of. He paced and he waited a little longer.
At last the door swung shut and he heard his father head down the street. It was a nice day, and the office was only two blocks over. Ethan fixed his jacket and grabbing his hat, headed out into the hall. It was better to move quickly, he decided, and not get held up.
But his mother had heard him open the door and called out to him. “Ethan? Come eat your food, would you? It’s getting cold.”
“Not hungry.” He already had a hand on the door. “I’m off. Goodbye, Mother.” And Ethan was out the door. Hurriedly he put his hat on his head and hooked up the horse.
