Chapter Twelve
Two weeks later, Leah grinned at Agnes. “I think it looks very festive around here.” She looked at the banister covered with greenery that seemed to flow down the stairs. Decorative Christmas ornaments hung about the room on boughs of green and red garland.
“What are your plans for that?” Agnes pointed to the Christmas wreath they had just finished making.
“Hang it on the kitchen door, of course.” Leah glanced up the stairs. “Would you mind listening for Molly while I do it?”
Agnes stood. “Not at all. I think I have some candles we can place in the windows. I’ll go look up in the attic.” She headed upstairs.
Leah picked up the wreath and headed for the door. She hummed a Christmas carol under her breath. It was hard to believe that the holiday was only a week away. The sun shone and filled the house with light when she opened the door.
Laying the wreath against the wall beside the door, Leah decided to go in search of a hammer and nail.
The sun glinting off the white landscape created a brightness that was almost blinding. Shielding her eyes against the glare, Leah followed the packed snow path to the barn.
She pulled the door open and slipped inside. The scent of warm hay and horses greeted her. It took Leah’s eyes a moment to adjust to the change in lighting.
Jake sat on a barrel just inside the door, applying oil to one of the saddles. When it was clear that Molly wasn’t with her, he asked, “Is Molly all right?”
Leah turned to face him. “Molly’s fine. She’s napping.”
He laid the oil rag to the side. “Then what brings you out to the barn?” Jake smiled.
“Agnes and I are decorating for Christmas and I was going to hang a wreath on the kitchen door, only I don’t have a nail.” She smiled back at him.
Jake walked to a small shelf and dug in a bag. He pulled out a couple of nails, then reached up and took a hammer from one of the many hooks. “These should do it.” He walked back and handed them to her.
“Thanks.”
“You’re going to need a ladder, also.” Jake walked to a corner of the barn and returned a few moments later. “Ready?”
“You’re going to help me?” Leah asked. He’d spent very little time with her since Nellie had left. She was both happy and nervous.
He held the barn door open. “Yep.”
Leah nodded and headed back up the snow-packed path to the house. “I’m not sure we need the step ladder.”
“Maybe not, but we’ll have it just in case.” His boots crunched along behind her. “How have you been?”
The question took her by surprise. He’d seen her while reading to Molly at night and during meals. “Good.”
Jake followed her up the steps and into the house. He set the ladder against the kitchen wall. “Where did you want to put the wreath?” he asked, facing the closed door.
Leah walked up to the door. She held the nails and hammer in her left hand. Using her right hand, she reached up above her head and pointed. She looked over her shoulder at him. “Right about here. What do you think?”
He nodded. “That looks like a good place.” Jake moved up behind her. “Keep your hand where you want the nail.” He reached down and took the nails and hammer from her other hand.
She could feel the warmth of his chest behind her. Leah faced the door and inhaled. He smelled of hay and warmth. She felt his hand cover hers.
“Okay, you can move now. I think I have it.”
Leah moved off to the side. Her heart beat against her chest.
Jake placed the nail against the wood but before hammering it in he asked, “Does this look about right?”
She tried to focus on the job at hand. “It looks about right.”
Jake hammered the nail in and picked up the wreath. He slipped it onto the nail. “You were right, we didn’t need the ladder.” He stepped back to admire his work.
They stood side by side, staring at the wreath. She didn’t know what more to say. He’d put up the wreath, nothing more needed to be done.
“I’m sorry I haven’t been around to help out with Molly,” Jake continued. “Seeing Nellie took me back a few years and I needed to think through some things.”
“Want to talk about it?” Leah didn’t know why she’d asked him that, but now that the words were out she hoped he would.
He turned to face her. “Did Nellie tell you anything about our past?”
Leah realized that maybe she didn’t want to hear this. Nellie hadn’t said anything on the subject. Leah knew that Molly was her niece and that Molly’s mother had been Nellie’s twin sister, but not once had they discussed Jake. Leah shook her head.
Jake took a deep breath. “Then I should tell you. As you already know, Nellie had a twin sister, Sally.”
“Yes, she did mention that Molly’s mother was her sister,” Leah said.
“Did she mention that Sally was engaged to me before she married my brother?” Hurt filled his voice.
“No.” Leah didn’t say any more. She wanted to give Jake the chance to pour out what he felt he needed to say.
“She and I were to be married. On the morning of our wedding, my brother, John, and Sally got married and then came out to the ranch and told me.” He stared deeply into her eyes.
Leah saw the betrayal in his eyes. “Oh, Jake. I am so sorry.”
Jake brushed a strand of hair off her forehead. “Thank you, but that was over five years ago.”
It was her turn to nod. “True, but I can see that you are still hurting.”
He seemed to ignore her last comment. “Seeing Nellie again brought back some old memories. I just needed time to sort through my thoughts.”
“And did you?”
Jake looked deeply into her eyes. “Do you remember me telling you that our marriage would be in name only?”
All Leah could do was nod. She’d lost her means of speech as she tried to figure out where he was going with this conversation.
“Well, Sally and John’s betrayal is the reason. I haven’t worked through the hurt, Leah.” He paused. “I’m not sure I ever will.”
Leah didn’t know how to respond. She’d known he’d never love her and now she knew why. If Sally hadn’t broken his heart and his brother hadn’t betrayed him, would Jake have taken a chance on loving her?
That cruel voice she’d heard in her head since childhood answered, No, he wouldn’t have, reminding Leah that her parents had abandoned her. Her parents hadn’t loved her enough to keep her. Even if he could have grown to love her, there was always the chance he’d desert her much like her parents had.
*
Jake saw the hurt drift across Leah’s face. He hadn’t meant to hurt her, but she needed to know why he couldn’t allow his heart to be broken again. “I’m sorry, Leah. If you want to call off the wedding, I understand.”
She reached up and touched his face. A wobbly smile filled her lips. “I still want to marry you, Jake.” Her soft fingers warmed his cold cheek. “Since you are being honest with me, let me assure you that I am not looking for love. I simply want to be with Molly and have a place to call home.”
He knew there was more to her story. There was an old saying that the eyes were mirrors of the soul. Leah’s eyes were filled with hurt. She could no more hide it than he could, apparently. They made quite the pair. Jake allowed her to see his true feelings and knew his eyes reflected his unhappiness and mistrust of love. Why didn’t Leah want his love? The question filtered through his mind. Had she been hurt, too? He couldn’t stop the word from leaving his lips. “Why?”
Her hand slid from his jaw. “Why, what?”
“Why aren’t you looking for love?” he pressed, wanting and dreading to hear her answer.
Leah folded her arms over her chest. “I’m not lovable.” She didn’t dare tell him that people who loved her in the past had abandoned her for strangers to raise. Who would want to marry someone whose parents hadn’t cared enough about her to ke
ep her with them? He’d leave her, too, and Leah didn’t think she could take that kind of rejection.
How could she say that? Didn’t she realize it wasn’t true? Molly loved her. Agnes valued her friendship and even he cared deeply for her.
“What makes you think you are unlovable?” Jake wanted to reach out and touch her as she had him but didn’t trust himself not to pull her into his arms and offer her the comfort she deserved.
She opened her mouth to answer but at that moment the sound of the stagecoach rolling up in front of the house stopped her. Leah offered him a sweet smile. “Looks like it’s time to get to work. Thank you for helping me with the wreath.”
Leah entered the house, leaving Jake on the porch, confused by the emotions washing over him.
*
Leah walked into the kitchen aware that she’d almost told Jake about her parents leaving her on the porch steps of the orphanage and how she had always been the child who was overlooked when people wanted children. The last thing she needed was his pity. It was a good thing the arrival of the stage had interrupted them.
Agnes turned from the stove. “Heard the coach drive up. How many passengers are there this time?”
Leah sighed. She’d been so rattled by Jake that she hadn’t stuck around to count. “I’ll be right back.” She hurried to look out the front window.
Two men and a woman stepped down from the stage. She recognized Nellie, but Marshall wasn’t with the pretty young woman. The men both wore business suits; one of them looked to be clutching a Bible against his chest. Jake walked down the steps to greet them.
She returned to the kitchen and answered Agnes, “Three, two men and Nellie.”
Agnes turned with a frown. “Molly’s aunt?”
Leah nodded. She crossed to the sideboard and poured hot coffee into four mugs, one for each passenger and the driver. Placing them on a tray, her mind tried to grasp the reason Nellie had returned. The other woman had been gone almost two weeks, why return now? Had she changed her mind about taking Molly from them?
The sound of boots stomping at the front door had Leah hurrying into the main room. Agnes followed, carrying four dessert plates with sliced apple pie on them. They set each member of the stage party a place at the table. The men immediately sat down but Nellie hurried over to them.
She gave them each a hug and then turned to Leah with a big grin. “Guess what I found?” she asked with a twinkle in her eye.
Molly came down the stairs looking sleepy. “What?” she asked, before Leah could get the word out.
Jake followed the men in, carrying a small bag that Leah assumed was Nellie’s. “I believe your aunt wanted Leah to ask that.” He scooped up his niece with one arm.
Molly giggled.
All eyes turned to Leah. “All right, what?” she asked.
“A preacher.”
Leah felt her mouth flop open. A preacher? Her eyes darted to Jake and then the two passengers. “Really?”
The one who held a Bible laid his hand on the book and answered, “Really.”
Nellie swept into a chair. “Right before I left, Jake asked me to see if I could find a preacher to marry the two of you. Well, I met Reverend Rice and Mr. Slade yesterday on our way to Denver and I convinced him to come back with me here. Isn’t that so, Reverend?”
The preacher swallowed a lump of pie before answering. “Yes, Mrs. Crane can be most persuasive.”
Nellie giggled. “Yes, I can.”
Jake walked over to Leah. “What do you say? Shall we get married?”
Molly grinned at her and nodded her head. “Yes, let’s be a family.” She clapped her hands at the idea.
Leah’s throat closed up. She’d so wanted a Christmas wedding. One week before Christmas wasn’t that far from Christmas Eve, the day she’d always dreamed of getting married, like the couple who’d stopped at the orphanage. Their Christmas Eve wedding had seemed perfect and they’d seemed so happy. She looked about the room. It was decorated for Christmas. Leah nodded.
Agnes laid a hand on Leah’s shoulder. “This is kind of sudden, Jake. A girl needs time to prepare for her wedding.”
Jake’s warm brown eyes softened as they searched her face. “I agree. Leah, do you still want a Christmas wedding?”
Had he seen her disappointment at the proposal of an earlier wedding? “Yes, but I can’t ask Reverend Rice to wait a whole week.”
The preacher thumped his Bible on the table. “Of course you can, young lady! Every bride should get a say on when she will say her vows. They are for life, you know.”
“I know, but Parson John won’t be coming back until spring, so even if we wait for him it won’t be a Christmas wedding.” Leah offered what she hoped was a gracious smile.
He nodded and then looked to Agnes. “That pie was really something, Mrs. Frontz. Mr. Porter told me I had a treat waiting for me.” The reverend laid his fork down. “Do you serve pie often?”
Mr. Frontz and two of the express riders entered the house. Leah knew she should go pour the men some hot coffee but her legs refused to move. Unsure where the conversation was going, Leah waited for Agnes’s response.
Jake set Molly down.
The little girl climbed up into her aunt’s lap. Nellie immediately began spooning pie into Molly’s mouth. Leah wanted to protest that pie would ruin the child’s dinner but didn’t trust her voice to say anything.
The other three men sat down at the table. They looked from the preacher to Agnes and back again.
Mr. Frontz nodded to Mr. Slade, who returned the gesture. Tension filled the room as if everyone expected something wonderful or strange to happen.
“Every day. But it’s not always apple. Sometimes it’s peach or cherry. Pretty much whatever I preserved the year before. Why do you ask?” She arched an eyebrow at him and a gleam filled her eyes.
He tilted his chair back and grinned. “Well, as long as your parson is out of town, I could stick around and provide the Christmas service. That is, if you don’t mind my staying here and eating up all your pie.”
“You mean, have the services here for a couple of weeks?”
Everyone in the room remained silent. The preacher looked to Leah. “Well, I believe I could be persuaded to stay for a few weeks, if I can stay here and enjoy that pie every day.” His gray eyes rose to meet Leah’s and Jake’s. “Might even be willing to do a Christmas Eve wedding.”
Joy leaped in Leah’s chest. God had just answered her prayers. She smiled and felt like clapping her hands the way Molly did when she became excited.
Jake draped his arm about her shoulder. “We’d be honored if you’d say the blessing over our wedding.” Then he leaned close to Leah’s ear and whispered for everyone to hear, “And you, my pretty bride, better learn how to bake pies. I have a feeling the reverend will be expecting a slice of payment every day.”
The room erupted with laughter and talking all at once. It was a joyous occasion for them all. For Leah, it was a dream come true.
Chapter Thirteen
Leah walked into the general store holding Molly’s hand. Jake followed close behind. She smiled down at the little girl and said, “We are here for you, Miss Molly. Look around and tell me and Uncle Jake what you’d like for Christmas.”
“Just remember, we aren’t going to buy you anything today,” Jake reminded her with a pat on the head.
Molly looked about the store with wide eyes. She released Leah’s hand and walked to the toys, her head held high and her little shoulders back.
Leah leaned over and whispered up to Jake, “What did you say to her at the house?” She continued watching the girl walk about the store in a dignified manner. It was so unusual for the child, who practically ran everywhere.
He bent down and whispered back, “That only good little girls who don’t run in the store get presents on Christmas morning.”
Now, why hadn’t she thought of that? Leah grinned. “Very wise counsel,” she teased.
“Be s
ure and get whatever you want or need,” he whispered against her ear.
A shiver ran down Leah’s spine. “Thank you.” She stepped away from him, moving to the fabric. She was just giddy about the upcoming wedding, Leah told herself. Happiness enveloped her at the thought. She couldn’t believe they’d be getting married in two short weeks.
Her gaze moved to her groom. Jake knelt down beside Molly. The two of them were looking into a glass case. Leah studied the two most important people in her life. Their faces were the same shape, and Molly’s little nose mirrored Jake’s exactly. She looked to see what they studied so intently. A beautiful porcelain doll sat in the center of the shelf.
Leah turned back to the fabric. She’d thought Agnes might like a pot holder for Christmas. It wouldn’t take much fabric, Leah reasoned, as she ran her hands over brown and yellow calico fabric.
She’d never given anyone a gift before and was looking forward to doing so. In the orphanage, Christmas was just another day. Leah assumed the caretakers did the best they could for the children, but even their best wasn’t much.
“I see you’ve found something you like,” Jake spoke behind her.
Leah jumped. How long had he been standing there watching her? She cleared her throat. “Yes, I’m thinking I’d like to get a little bit of this fabric so that I can make Agnes two pot holders.” To avoid his gaze, she looked about for Molly.
The little girl stood at the counter picking out a piece of candy. Leah took a deep breath and returned her attention to Jake.
He laid his hand on her shoulder. “That’s nice. Which two colors do you want?”
Unnerved by his closeness, she pointed out the yellow and brown prints. “I think those two would be best.” She was thankful her voice came out strong instead of quivery, the way her insides felt.
Jake picked up both bolts and stood with them under his arm. “Would you mind making Molly a couple of new dresses?”
Her gaze moved to the little girl. Molly’s dress looked worn at the hem and a little too short. “I would be happy to,” Leah answered. She searched the table of fabrics once more.
Love Inspired Historical November 2014 Page 63
