“I like the pink with yellow flowers,” Jake offered, reaching for the bolt.
“Me, too. And maybe the blue with green swirls?” Leah asked, also reaching toward the material.
Their hands touched and a shimmer of feelings ricocheted through Leah. She felt color fill her face and turned away. She knew her feelings for Jake were changing; Leah also knew she needed to rein in those emotions. The last thing she needed was Jake getting cold feet and leaving her right before their wedding day. “Uh, I’ll get the needles and thread while you take care of the fabric.” Leah hurried to the sewing notions.
A little while later, they left the store with two boxes, one filled with fabric and sewing notions, the other with food staples for Agnes. Leah couldn’t believe what all Jake had bought.
Jake had seen Leah looking at the tin of cocoa and had placed it in the pile of supplies, along with an extra pound of sugar. He’d also bought a lot more fabric than she’d expected.
All sorts of sewing ideas whipped through her mind. She would be making two dresses for Molly, a set of pot holders for Agnes and with the scraps that were left over, Leah could add them to other sewing scraps and make a nine-patch quilt.
Molly ran ahead of them. She’d asked for a spinning top, new clothes for her rag doll, a child’s tea set and a box full of barnyard animals.
Leah noticed that Jake had been quiet since they’d left the store. “Did I spend too much?” she asked, praying that wasn’t the reason for his silence.
“No. Why do you ask?”
She looked down at the slushy snow at their feet. “You seem thoughtful.” Thoughtful wasn’t really the word she’d been seeking but it sounded nicer than quiet. Besides, a man was allowed a moment of silence, so that would have seemed odd to say.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I was just thinking about Molly and her list of Christmas wishes.” He turned his gaze on her. “And it got me to thinking, what would you like for Christmas, Leah?”
No one had ever asked her what she wanted. The question took Leah by surprise and she stared at him blankly. In the orphanage everyone got a bag of hard candy and an orange for Christmas. Nothing more.
If he thought her behavior strange, Jake didn’t let on. “Maybe something for the house? Or a piece of jewelry? A book?” he hinted.
“I haven’t given any thought to receiving a gift,” Leah admitted.
Jake laughed. “Well, think about it and let me know if you come up with something.”
Something white sped toward Jake. It hit his coat with a splat. His wide eyes revealed that the snowball had taken him completely by surprise.
Childish laughter filled the chilly air. “I got you! I got you!” Molly squealed.
Jake set the box he was carrying down and bent to scoop up some snow. “Now it’s my turn!” he called back to his niece.
Molly took off running. Jake followed. Leah shook her head. Then it dawned on her she should join the fun. She sat her box on top of Jake’s and scooped up the moist snow.
The little girl came running at her. “Save me, Leah! Uncle Jake’s gonna hit me with a snowball!”
Leah hid her snowball behind her back and as soon as Molly and Jake sped past her, she let it fly. The cold wet snow hit him right between the shoulder blades.
He spun around and growled like a cranky old bear. “Oh, an ambush. Two against one.”
Molly had already armed herself and let fly her snowball. It flew past Jake and hit Leah in the chest.
“Oops.” Molly bent down and began forming another ball.
Leah ran from Jake. She heard him catching up with her and squealed as she made a mad dart to the side.
“You better run! This snowball has your name written all over it!” Jake called.
Molly chased after him and tossed her snow as hard as she could. It hit Jake in the shoulder.
Watching Jake and his niece playing made Leah aware that soon she would have a husband and child of her own. They would have many years of playing. She’d never dreamed of having a real family. One that played and loved deeply. Thank you, Father, for bringing Molly and Jake into my life.
*
Jake pretended to roar like a wild animal and whirled around to chase his niece. The snowball he carried was turning into a puddle in his hand. He watched Molly’s stocking hat fly off her head. Silky stands of blond hair flew out behind her. She squealed in delight at his pursuit.
Another wet glob hit him in the back of the head. Jake turned and tossed his snowball at Leah, making sure to miss her. She laughed and ran away again. Jake chased her. He loved the way her laughter flowed behind her and into his ears.
She jumped over something but he was too close to jump, too.
Jake felt his feet start to go out from under him as he hit the icy patch. In an attempt to keep from falling backward, he lunged forward.
Leah chose that moment to bend over for more snow ammo.
He couldn’t stop. Jake knew they were going to collide. With all the thought he could muster, he grabbed Leah around the waist, twisted her around and then flipped just before the cold, hard ground collided with his back.
Leah landed on his stomach and chest with a loud whoosh. Her hat flew off her head and her hair fell forward, creating a curtain about their faces.
Without thought, Jake kissed her.
The sensation of their lips meeting knocked all the air from his body. His eyes flew open and he looked into her face.
Molly’s laughing face was mere inches from theirs. The little girl had landed on top of Leah. Leah was sandwiched between uncle and niece like ham on rye.
Leah looked down at him with laughing sky-blue eyes. The joy of snowball fighting had taken all the seriousness from her face. She appeared younger, more carefree than he’d ever seen her.
“Uncle Jake? Are you all right?” Seriousness filled his young niece’s voice.
He groaned as if in great pain. Both Leah and Molly leaned forward to look at him. Jake wrapped his arms around them both and quickly rolled. He kept his weight from crushing them as they squealed in surprise.
Jake pushed himself up and then reached down to grasp Leah’s hand. She gave it to him with a grin. Was she thinking about the kiss? Or was she simply acting as if it hadn’t happened?
Molly whimpered. “Uncle Jake, you got me all wet from the snow.”
Leah turned and helped the little girl up. “I think all this fun has put me in the mood for hot chocolate. Does anyone else want a cup?”
The little girl immediately began hopping up and down. “I do! I do!” She raced ahead once more, unaware that she’d lost her hat.
Jake found both Molly’s and Leah’s hats. He handed Leah hers. Expecting her to place it on her head, Jake was surprised when she set it in the bag full of fabric.
Together they walked on to the house. Leah carried the fabrics and sewing notions. Her cheeks were rosy from the cold air. It had been fun seeing the carefree side of her. She’d lost some of the caution that always seemed to shroud her.
He held the door open for her and once she was inside he glanced at the clock. Time had passed faster than he’d realized. Jake set the food by the door. “I’ll be right back. We have a rider coming in about twenty minutes. I need to prepare his horse.”
Leah offered him a sweet smile. “Do you want hot cocoa or hot apple cider?”
“The cocoa will be fine.” Jake closed the door behind them, shutting out the cold air. Molly stuck her head out the kitchen door. “Hurry, Leah. Agnes already has the milk heating for our cocoa.” She darted back around the door.
Jake shook his head. “That child is demanding, now that she can talk.” He turned to leave, feeling foolish for hanging around after he’d plainly stated he had work needing to be done.
Leah’s soft laughter followed him back out the door. What was he thinking, playing out in the snow when he had a job to do? Jake’s thoughts turned to the fun they’d had and he smiled.
He entered the barn and h
eaded straight for Lightning’s stall. The mustang would be raring to go. It was funny how the horses sensed when it was their time to take the trail with a rider.
Cole stood in the stall with Lightning. “Hope you don’t mind, but I thought I’d go ahead and get him ready.” He grinned at Jake.
The teasing grin on Cole’s face put Jake on his guard. “Now, why would you go and do a thing like that?” Jake leaned against the door to the stall.
“To help out a friend?” Cole tightened the cinch on the saddle.
“Well, in that case I don’t mind at all.” Jake pushed away from the door. “Want a cup of hot chocolate before you ride out?” he asked, giving the young man a slap on the back.
“Hot chocolate? Really?” Joy leaped in Cole’s eyes.
Jake noted it and mentally decided a small tin of hot chocolate would be Cole’s Christmas gift from him. He grinned at the young man. “Come on, and if we hurry you can have a cup before the next rider arrives.”
Cole led the way back inside. “Ya know, I’ll be happy to stay here, play snowball fights and drink hot chocolate with Miss Hollister and Molly. Want to trade places?”
Jake laughed. “Not on your life.” There was a time he would have gladly become a pony express rider, if he hadn’t been too large for the job, but not now. For the first time in his life, he had a family and something to stick around for. Being a pony express rider was just too dangerous for a family man.
He stopped suddenly and turned in a slow circle. When had he started thinking of himself as a family man? Was it when he’d learned Molly was his niece? Or the day Leah had said she’d marry him?
*
Leah stood at the washbasin pretending to ignore the little girl beside her. Over the past couple of days, she had allowed Molly to play alone outside in the afternoons beside the house. Leah kept a close eye on the little girl and wanted to make sure she was always safe. Today she was having fun, playing with the child even though she felt more tired than she had since her arrival at the home station.
Molly pulled on Leah’s skirt to get her attention. “Leah? Please, I want to go play in the snow,” she begged.
“I suppose so, but only for a little while. Stay close to the house and the snowman. As soon as I get these dishes done I’ll come get you for your nap.” Leah realized she was talking to empty air because Molly had already grabbed her coat and mittens and headed out the back door.
She should have put her hat on, too, but seeing as she wouldn’t be out there that long, Leah decided to let her go and returned to scrubbing the last pot. She found her mind wandering to the upcoming wedding.
Both excited and a little nervous, Leah had taken her dress out and hung it beside the mirror in her room. She hoped that the wrinkles would fall out on their own and she wouldn’t have to iron it. The dress seemed to shimmer in the morning light when the sun came through the window.
Agnes entered the kitchen. “Thank you for doing those for me. You know, you really do too much.” She pulled a clean mug out of the cupboard. “When you get done with those, why don’t you sit down and have a cup of tea with me. I’d like to talk to you for a few minutes before we have to get busy again.”
Leah dried the pot and put it away. She picked up the washbasin and carried the dirty water to the back door. “Do you mind if I dump this first and then put Molly down for her nap? That way we can talk in peace.”
“That will be fine.” Agnes sat down at the table. She poured hot tea from the teapot.
It had become a daily ritual for them to sit down for a few minutes while Molly napped. “Good.” Leah pushed the door open and carefully walked to the edge of the house where they tossed out dirty dish water. She noted that the hot water melted what little snow had accumulated there. Then Leah headed to the other side of the house where Molly would be playing.
Just before she rounded the corner, Leah heard the little girl talking to someone. Thinking Molly was playing make-believe she didn’t give it much thought. Then a low grunting sound answered the little girl.
Leah became instantly alert. What on earth was Molly playing with? Maybe a dog? Or had she come into contact with a black bear? She’d heard one of the express riders talking about bears being in the area. But weren’t they hibernating now?
Leah hurried around the corner of the house and saw a little boy. Had he made that noise? Well, maybe they were pretending he was a dog or a bear.
His dark eyes widened and then he ran. Leah could tell from his clothes and darker skin that he was an Indian child. Probably no more than six years old.
“Molly, who was that?” Leah asked, trying her best to be calm. Her gaze searched the trees that the little boy had disappeared into.
The little girl shrugged. “I don’t know. He doesn’t talk very good.”
He probably spoke better than Molly, only in his own language. Leah didn’t press the issue, but asked, “Have you played with him before?” She took Molly’s hand and began walking toward the house.
“No.” Realizing that Leah was taking her inside, Molly pulled her arm. “I don’t want to take my nap.”
“I know, sweetie, but if you don’t rest, you will be cranky for the rest of the day.” Leah held fast to Molly’s hand and helped her up the back stairs.
When they got to the kitchen Molly pleaded with Agnes. “Miss Agnes, please tell Leah I’m too big for naps.” Despite her words, Molly yawned.
“Nope, you need your rest.” Agnes took a sip of her tea. “Besides the sooner you go down, the sooner you can get up.”
Leah had no more trouble out of the little girl. Once they were upstairs, Molly took off her shoes and climbed into the bed they shared. “I still don’t like naps,” she complained.
“I know.” Leah handed the rag doll to Molly.
“Thanks.” She cuddled the doll close and within a few minutes was fast asleep.
Leah would have liked to crawl in bed with her. She stifled a yawn and shut the door. She and Agnes had been working doubly hard the past few days to keep the house clean in order to make a good impression on Mr. Slade, the pony express division agent.
Mr. Slade had kept all the men busy and Leah had seen very little of Jake, other than meals and their nightly Bible reading with Molly. Her thoughts went to the little Indian boy. Molly said she’d never talked to him before. Should she mention the boy to Jake? With Mr. Slade about, everyone seemed a little higher strung. Maybe now wasn’t the best time to mention the child. After all, he was probably no older than six, so what harm could he do?
She walked into the kitchen. Once more Leah yawned.
“Maybe Molly isn’t the only one who needs a nap.” Agnes motioned for Leah to join her at the table.
She did as she was bid. A hot cup of tea sat before her. She inhaled its rich fragrance before answering. “No, I’d rather stay up with the grown-ups.” She smiled over her cup.
Agnes laughed. “Not me. If I could, I’d take an afternoon nap, too.”
Leah took a sip from her tea. “Mmm, this is good.” She set the cup back down. “What did you want to talk to me about?”
“Well, your wedding is coming up soon and we haven’t discussed what type of flowers you will be carrying, what kind of cake I should bake or discussed your wedding dress.” Agnes stood up and went to the cookie jar.
While Agnes put cookies on a plate, Leah said, “I’m not sure I’ll be carrying flowers. After all it is the dead of winter. Where would we get them?”
Agnes set the plate on the table. “I’ve thought of that. Maybe we could get some plastic ones from the general store here or in Julesburg.” She picked up a sugar cookie and munched around the edges of it.
Leah didn’t like the idea of fake flowers. She shook her head. This wasn’t a real marriage, but she would like for everything about the ceremony to be real.
“No?” Agnes said, breaking the cookie in half.
Again Leah shook her head. “No, if I can’t have real flowers, I don’t thi
nk I want any.”
Agnes reached out and patted her hand. “I understand. Well, what about the wedding cake? What flavor would you like?”
Leah drew a blank. She had no idea what Jake’s favorite flavor of cake might be. Was that something other brides knew about their future husbands? Or did she simply make the decision and not worry about what he’d prefer? “I’m not sure about that either. What is normally served at weddings?” Leah asked, praying Agnes wouldn’t realize how little she knew about Jake and his preferences.
“My wedding cake was simple. One layer, more like a loaf than a cake, but everyone seemed to enjoy it.” Agnes set her cup down.
Leah leaned forward. “Do we have the ingredients for it?”
“I believe so.” Agnes went to the cupboard and pulled out a cookbook. “My mother wrote the recipe in here for me.” Agnes returned to the table and flipped through the pages of the book. “Here it is. Let’s see, we’ll need one pound of butter, one of sugar, ten eggs, half a pint of brandy, a glass of wine, three nutmegs, a tablespoonful of mace, one pound of flour, two of currants, one of stoned raisins and half a pound of citron.”
“I’m not sure about the alcohol in it, Agnes. What about Molly?” Leah shook her head.
Agnes waved her hand. “Oh, that cooks out. It will be perfectly safe for everyone to eat.” She looked up and grinned. “Please let me make the cake for you, Leah.”
“You’re sure it will cook out?”
Agnes nodded. “I promise…”
She looked so happy that Leah didn’t have the heart to take this from her. “Then I’ll be most appreciative if you will make the cake for us.”
“Good. Now that that’s settled, we need to start thinking about a wedding dress.” Agnes shut her recipe book.
Leah smiled. “I already have a wedding dress. I thought I would be marrying Thomas, so I brought my wedding dress with me.” She didn’t tell Agnes that she’d worked several days for the local seamstress to get it.
“Well, then, I guess that’s settled.” Agnes sighed. “I suppose I better check on the lamb stew.” Agnes stood up and walked to the large pot sitting on the stove.
Love Inspired Historical November 2014 Page 64
