“Mmm… Come to think of it, I guess I am a bit hungry.” He grinned, mischief sparkling in his eyes. “The food here is good but not as tasty as what I’m used to. You know, that is why I married you. Couldn’t let your food get away from us.” She threw a pillow at him, but he winked and slid out of the bed.
Less than an hour later, Anna sat across from Jacob at a little round table in the hotel’s dining room. As the waitress poured coffee for them both, Anna used the opportunity to scan their surroundings. The room was full of genteel people, mostly dressed in suits and elegant day gowns. The quiet conversation murmured over the soft clink of fork against dish.
She turned back to Jacob. His rugged good looks helped him fit into any setting, but his blue long-sleeved shirt that brought out the color of his eyes clearly identified him as a cowboy. Warmth flooded Anna’s chest. Her cowboy.
A familiar scene flitted through her mind of the group around the large dining table at the Double Rocking B. Such a comfortable picture it made. The haphazard group of cowboys had become her extended family. And she was one of the women of the house now. She really belonged there and had a gold band on her finger and a marriage license to prove it.
Jacob reached forward to lay a hand on top of Anna’s. “Everything okay?”
She brought herself back to the present and smiled. “I was counting my blessings.”
“Would one of those blessings be the breakfast I smell cooking?”
She raised an eyebrow. “Maybe.”
When it arrived, the food did look awfully good. Crispy bacon, buttered toast, warm eggs, sausage and grits. Jacob had ordered an extra plate of hotcakes, just to make sure he had enough to hold him over until lunch.
As they bowed to ask God’s blessing on the food, Anna’s eyes drifted open to stare at the shiny ring on her left hand. A warmth spread through her. This was the ring Jacob’s father had given to his mother as they began their beautiful and lasting marriage. And now, Jacob had given this same ring to her as a symbol of all their own marriage would hold.
She sneaked a peek at Jacob and drank in his perfectly-formed features. His rich voice and the adorable pucker between his dark brows revealed his concentration on the prayer. Anna’s conscience pricked. She quickly bowed her head and raised her own heartfelt thanks to the Father.
* * *
“So what would you like to see tomorrow?”
Anna strolled on Jacob’s arm along the river walk next to the San Antonio River where it ran through the center of town. The sky held the dusky aura that comes just before a magnificent sunset.
“Well,” he contemplated as they ambled along, “the San Fernando Cathedral we saw today was somethin’ else, but I think my favorite is still the Alamo we toured on the first day. You could just about hear the bullets still ricochetin’ off the walls in there.”
Anna chuckled. “A real piece of history for sure.”
Jacob paused his strolling to turn and face the water, hands deep in the pockets of his trousers. The river was wide in this spot and flowed slowly. Not as much like the Guadalupe that bordered their ranch. No birds sang in the trees here, or rabbits bounding into the underbrush. Actually, no underbrush at all. Still, there was the earthy smell of the water and the gentle murmur it spoke.
“The clerk at the hotel told me the San Antonio springs are only four miles north of here. He said there’s one spring in particular, the Blue Hole, that’s a pretty sight and would be worth the drive. Whatd’ya think?”
Anna allowed her smile to blossom. “It sounds perfect for our last day.”
Jacob glanced over to gauge her expression. “Are you sad we’ll be leavin’?”
Anna turned to face the river, the breeze ruffling her hair. “In some ways, yes. It’s been a little bit like heaven to have you all to myself.” She cast a sideways glance at him then focused on the flowing water again. “I miss home, though. And Aunt Lola, and the boys, and my kitchen. And our own river.”
“Mmmhm.”
They stood there for a long time. Like trees on the river’s edge. The breeze caressing, the water flowing. No words needed. Just silent companionship.
* * *
The weather couldn’t have been more perfect, sunny but with a little bit of breeze that tasted almost like fall was in the air. The hired gelding kept up a steady jog until Jacob reined him back to a walk when they reached a sign that read The Blue Hole Spring ahead. An arrow pointed to the left toward a wide trail that led from the main road.
When the spring came into sight, Anna gasped at the vision that lay before them. Water shot several feet into the air, spraying over thick green foliage and moss-covered rocks. The play of light through the clear water created a rainbow of colors, and the effect of it all was stunning.
“It’s amazing,” she breathed.
Jacob set the brake on the buggy and leaned back in the seat, propping a boot on the buckboard and an arm on the seat back behind Anna.
“It is that,” he agreed in a low, reverent tone.
Anna nestled into Jacob’s arm and the two sat for a while admiring the natural beauty God had created in this place.
Anna was the first to speak. “I wonder if there’s a spring like this at the head of the Guadalupe?”
“I heard an old rancher one time say it starts up in the Texas hill country and comes from two river forks that join together near Kerrville. Maybe we could take a trip up there to check it out one day.”
She gave him a hopeful grin. “I’d love that.” After a few more peaceful minutes, Anna gave voice to her thoughts. “As pretty as this is, I miss our own river. It feels like I’ve lived a lifetime there on the banks of the Guadalupe.”
Jacob chuckled, “Me, too, Darlin’. Me, too.”
* * *
Thursday dawned overcast, but as long as the rain held off, Jacob figured that would probably be the best weather to travel in. Not as hot if the sun wasn’t beating down.
He sat in their hotel room in one of the overstuffed chairs by the fireplace, working the buttons on his shirtsleeves into place. Anna stepped from the washroom and brushed her long wavy brown hair in front of the full length mirror. His fingers itched to touch it again. There sure was something special about his woman’s hair.
Anna’s eyes caught his in the mirror and she flashed a shy smile. “What is it?”
“Oh, I’m just sittin’ here thinkin’ how lucky I was to get the prettiest gal in the state of Texas.”
A mischievous light twinkled in her eyes. “Lucky, huh? Seems to me luck didn’t have much to do with it.”
Jacob nodded and rose to his feet, grabbing his hat from the table. “Reckon’ I know better than to argue with a lady.” He strode forward, laid his hands on Anna’s shoulders, and nuzzled a kiss on the side of her neck, breathing in the honeysuckle scent that always clung to her. “I’m gonna head downstairs and send for the buggy. I’ll be up to get you shortly.”
Anna leaned back against him, and he was tempted to forget all about the buggy for a while.
“I’ll have things ready when you get back.” Her words helped him refocus on his mission and he pulled himself away.
Before long, they were on their way, headed back toward Seguin. The trip was a long one, almost thirty miles. He usually dreaded it, especially in a buggy or wagon instead of on horseback. It seemed to pass more quickly this time, though. It surely helped to have Anna snuggled in next to him. How was he ever really happy before her?
They made it to Seguin by suppertime and stopped at the café inside the Magnolia Hotel. They were almost home.
It seemed like everyone in the restaurant stopped to congratulate them on the marriage. By the time the fifth person had approached their table, Anna stopped turning pink from all the unexpected attention. Most of the people knew them both from church, but Jacob spied a plump, matronly woman moving toward them whom he doubted Anna had ever met.
“Here comes Mrs. Catherine LeGette,” Jacob whispered, preparing his wif
e for the approaching guest. “She lives in the big Sebastopol house over on Zorn Street. The one that looks like a Grecian temple.”
Anna’s eyes widened as she pressed the cloth napkin to her mouth.
Her response was cut short by the delighted pitch of the lady’s shrill voice. “Oh, if it isn’t the newlyweds.” Mrs. LeGette stopped in front of their table, panting a bit as if striding across the café had winded her.
Jacob stood politely. “Mrs. LeGette. Always a pleasure, ma’am.”
She waved him down. “Sit, sit. I thought that was an O’Brien man when I saw you from the door.” She turned to Anna. “These O’Brien’s, you can spot ‘em in a New York crowd. Broad shoulders, tall, and the prettiest blue eyes you ever did see. And wearin’ cowboy boots like they was the latest in Paris fashion. Mmmm…” She looked like she might eat him up right then and there. Jacob caught himself edging backward.
Anna’s soft chuckle soothed his nerves. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. LeGette. I’m Anna O’Brien. And how do you know my husband’s family?”
She raised a single eyebrow, a half-tilt to her mouth. “Oh, every single gal in Guadalupe County knows about the O’Brien men. The two most eligible bachelors around.” She spun back to Jacob. “And now you’ve gone and broken the heart of every maiden under the age of thirty-five. Tsk, tsk.” She released a dramatic sigh and Jacob wanted to sink right down under his chair. She was drawing the attention of people at nearby tables, too.
Before either one of them had a chance to respond, Mrs. LeGette turned back to Anna. “But I hear he’s made an excellent choice, my dear. I couldn’t be happier for you both. And I insist you come and visit me the next time you’re in town. No advance notice needed, just stop by my home. It’s the one with columns along the front over on Zorn Street.”
Anna’s eyes lit. “That’s so thoughtful. I’d love to. I’ve seen your home from the street and it’s beautiful. The architecture reminds me of something from Ancient Greece or Rome.”
The matronly woman puffed a bit at the praise. “They call it Greek Revival style, and my brother Joshua built it for me about ten years ago. We always dreamed of traveling to exotic lands when we were little, and I guess we never got it out of our systems.” She almost giggled.
Anna rested a soft hand on Mrs. LeGette’s arm. “Well, I hope you’ll give me a tour when I visit.”
The older woman bloomed like a rosebud after a rain shower. It was amazing the effect his genteel wife had on people. “I’ll be counting on it. Now I’ll leave you two lovebirds alone to enjoy your supper.” Sending a final pert look in Jacob’s direction, she said, “You take care of this gal, Jacob O’Brien. You hear?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The food at the café was decent, but these bland hotel meals were losing their luster. They didn’t hold a candle to the food that came out of Anna’s kitchen. After the bill was paid and Anna rose to her feet, Jacob stood and stretched his long arms, feeling a bit crowded in the little tea room where they stood.
“Well, would you like to stay in town tonight or head on out to the ranch? We have another hour of daylight left before the sun’ll start to set, so I’m fine either way.”
Anna chewed her bottom lip and peered up at him through her long lashes. “If you’re not too tired, I’d love to go home. It feels like we’ve been gone for ages.” And then her eyes went wide and her cheeks pinked. “I mean…it was a wonderful trip, though. I enjoyed every minute of it.”
He couldn’t quite hold in a grin. He reached for Anna’s elbow and guided her toward the front door. “I know it, darlin’. I’m a bit homesick, too.”
* * *
Jacob kept the bay gelding in a steady jog for much of the road to the ranch. As the familiar live oak tree came into view that marked the corner of the O’Brien land, he reined the horse back to a walk. As much as he was looking forward to seeing the family again, it was like a little slice of heaven having Anna to himself. He hated to break the spell just yet. An idea began to form in Jacob’s mind. He turned the horse and buggy off the road and into the meadow, heading toward a familiar line of trees in the distance.
Anna sat up beside him, her hand touching his forearm. “What are we doing? Is everything okay?”
He tried to keep his face as stoic as possible, but this was going to be fun keeping her guessing. “Everything’s fine. We’re just taking a little detour.”
Anna didn’t say anything else, but her fingers twisted the blue muslin of her skirt. It was eating her alive, not knowing where they were headed. Well, hopefully the outcome would be worth the suspense.
When the buggy rolled onto the road through the woods that led toward the Guadalupe River, Anna’s shoulders relaxed and she leaned back into his side. He avoided looking at her until the river was before them and he’d reined the horse to a stop.
He finally dared a glance and was caught up in the delight that had spread across her face. “Do you wanna get down or enjoy it from here?” He spoke softly so he didn’t break the magic of the place.
Without answering, Anna lowered herself from the wagon and stepped forward to the edge of the water. He strolled up beside her, and Anna reached for his hand without moving her gaze from the flowing river, entwining their fingers together.
For a while they stood like that, listening to the gentle murmur of the water and the twitter of birds in the nearby trees. The sun was making its progress toward the western horizon and flashed brilliant oranges, pinks, and purples across everything in its path. The way the colors illuminated Anna’s face only served to enhance the pure pleasure there. She looked like an angel.
“Jacob.” She still hadn’t looked at him, and for a moment he wasn’t sure if she’d actually spoken.
“Yes.”
She finally turned to face him, love shining in her gaze. “Welcome home.”
Please read on to learn more about the author, Misty M. Beller, and to read a sample from another Prism Book Group title, Year of Jubilee.
Please enjoy this sample from Year of Jubilee by Peggy Trotter available from Prism Book Group!
Gibson County, Indiana, December 31st, 1849
Jubilee Stallings’ forehead collided with the wall. Stars flashed behind her closed lids. She lay completely still. Her face heated and her body ached, yet she dared not move.
“You’re worthless,” her husband’s slurred voice continued.
She heard his footsteps stagger across the floorboards.
“You’re nuttin’ but a dog, and…and…a piece…of dung.”
The floorboards thundered as his body hit the floor. Scraping sounds emitted from the other side of the room.
“I…oughta…”
He continued mumbling unintelligibly. Jubilee pressed her bruised brow against the icy wood of the wall and prayed. Fresh tears wet her face. Please fall asleep. Almost on command, Colvin gave a snore. Jubilee continued to lie immobile, although, now that the initial rush of adrenaline had worn off, the frigid air made her naked body want to shake. She clenched her teeth and fought against her body’s urge. Snores filled the air.
She pushed to a sitting position and eyed the straw mattress where Colvin had sprawled. Moving as cautiously as a newborn colt, she crawled to her dress by the door. She pulled it on as a set of shivers ripped through her body. With her sweater in hand, she crept to the fireplace. Only dying embers remained, but Jubilee couldn’t risk adding another log. Her teeth chattered as she tucked her feet beneath her skirt and pulled up the ragged cardigan to ward off the chill.
She grimaced as she rubbed the swelling on her neck where he’d choked her. The moonlight broke through the clouds, highlighting the marks scratched into the wall near the stone mantel. She’d carved the last one this morning—December 31, 1849. More than a full year had come and gone since she’d begun marking. Tomorrow would be her second birthday in this house. Once again, tears threatened. She’d be eighteen.
The day had dawned in a gray haze, but the
day of her birth marked a new year, which always buoyed her with hope. The hours had passed pleasantly. She’d filled the wood box, baked fresh bread, and gone to bed looking forward to tomorrow. Until Colvin had exploded through the door, startling her from a deep sleep. She closed her eyes and her mind. It was always the same. More tears spilled from her swollen eyelids.
She tensed as Colvin sputtered a few times before going back to his ear-splitting snores. Noting where his pants had dropped, she decided to wait a little longer before she pilfered a couple coins. Any more and he’d notice and beat her senseless. Now, time to rest and recover her strength. She’d make sure she wasn’t near the cabin when he woke. Hopefully he’d follow his usual pattern and be off and gone for the next several weeks. Let it be months, she prayed. I don’t care if he ever shows up again. For now, she needed rest.
She woke a short time later, collected a few coins from Colvin’s pockets, and opened the door, thankful for the quiet leather hinges. Because of the cold, she wouldn’t head to the woods, her favorite hiding place. She’d settle for the barn, a huge hulking structure. Her breath formed a ghostly fog about her in the chill, crisp air. Fear licked at her, and she ran from the evil sleeping in the cabin.
Inside the barn, she moved quietly so as to not stir the cow, who loved to greet her in the early morn. She scrambled into the loft and buried herself in a cave of hay. The exertion left her body panting, but warm. With the protection of the sweet hay around her, she fell asleep.
* * *
Jubilee started. She blinked a few times before she realized where she was. Dust tickled her nose. Noises caught her attention. Colvin saddled his horse in the stall below. He spoke in gentle tones. The man had always been kinder to his beast than he had been to her. A door opened with a creak and a low thudding indicated man and horse made their way to the exit. Good riddance, she thought as the barn door closed.
The Rancher Takes a Cook Page 21
