Love Finds You in Silver City, Idaho
Page 26
“How can I ever thank you, Nate? You saved my family.”
Nate shook his head, humbled. “No, sir, it wasn’t me. Thank the good Lord. I know I sure am.”
They hustled the three men into the cells next to Henry and returned outside, glad to let the sheriff watch the men. Nate would have a talk with him in a bit, but at the moment, he wasn’t in the mood.
“How’s the family, Perry?”
Tears filled his eyes. “Never better, my boy. Never better. Kate insists you come to supper.”
“How’s Reuben?” He avoided answering the invitation. Not only was he weary, but he needed time alone.
Before Perry could respond, Reuben came running up to them, covered in dust and dirt. Perry met him and grabbed him by the arms. “You all right, Rube? You look near dead.”
Reuben grinned, his teeth gleaming through the grime on his face. “Not dead, Perry. Alive. Very much alive. I found silver. More than you can count.”
Perry stared. “What?”
Reuben howled with laughter. “Silver, man. We’re rich. Near as I can tell, the explosion shook it loose.”
Still staring, Perry started to smile. “Reuben, my friend, you never stuttered a single one of those words.” He gave the man a shake. “Praise God.” He whooped and punched his fist through the air. “Praise God.”
In all the excitement, Perry forgot Nate and left him standing in front of the jailhouse as they raced toward home.
Nate didn’t mind. He was praising God along with Perry and Reuben. He’d spend the night doing much the same.
Chapter Forty
Rebekah wiped off the counter for the third time, then glanced around for something else to do. Boredom ate up her insides. She’d rather be flooded with customers than have to sit idle, but since her father and Reuben found silver in the Florida Mountains, half the town hiked out there every day, trying to do the same. And now she and Mama had fewer patrons.
When she thought of Mama, happiness filled her heart. They’d all been worried about her, but now that the blackmailing and threats had stopped, Mama’s sad disposition had also ended. Now Mama’s smiles always lurked near the surface and at the ready.
She abandoned the dust cloth and looked around. Where’d she put the broom? At the very least, she could sweep the floor and boardwalk again.
As much as she tried to fight memories of Nate, he found a way back into her thoughts, like right now. If only he’d said good-bye before taking Mr. Gilmore and his friends to Boise for their trial two weeks ago…
No, she wouldn’t allow herself to dwell on that. Most men didn’t know how to say a proper farewell. Maybe Nate feared that she’d cry—but she wouldn’t have. She’d known from the get-go he’d be in Silver for a short stay. No need to take his departure personally. That she’d fallen in love with the near-perfect stranger was absurd. As she searched every inch of the store for the elusive broom, Rebekah repeated, “Lord, take captive my every thought.”
Finally, she spied the broom, not two feet from where she’d stood behind the counter. Breathing hard, she narrowed her eyes. She only had to locate a hammer and nail. Once she had that nail pounded in the wall, she could hang the broom on it and never have to hunt for it again.
Finding what she needed in the livery next door, she returned to the store, decided where the broom should hang, and took aim at the nail’s head. Three whacks later, the nail tip had barely made a dent. She slammed it harder hoping she wouldn’t damage her hand.
“You trying to kill the nail or your thumb?”
Swinging her head around at the voice, she did hit her thumb. Rebekah dropped the hammer, brought her thumb to her mouth, and glared at Thomas for causing the accident. It didn’t help that he fought a laugh. He moved behind the counter with his hand out.
“Here, let me see.”
Tucking her hand in her apron pocket, she narrowed her eyes. “I don’t think so. You’re the reason I’m hurt. Don’t you know you shouldn’t sneak up on someone with a hammer?”
His chuckles finally escaped. “I wasn’t sneaking. You just weren’t paying attention.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I was paying attention—to what I was doing.” Her hand brushed a scrap of paper in her pocket. She pulled it out. “What’s this?”
Thomas’s eyes widened as he reached for the paper. “Let me see.”
She jerked her hand back. “I don’t think so. At least not until I look at it.” Unfolding the note, she instantly recognized the script and looked at Thomas. “You wrote this.” He’d sent her one of the notes like he’d given Cora. “When did you give it to me?”
She started to read, only to have Thomas reach for it again, forcing her to pull it away once more.
“Don’t read it, Rebekah.”
His eyes begged her to listen, but her curiosity was too strong. Taking a few steps back, she started to read aloud.
“You often dwell on thoughts of Nate,
and maybe dream he’ll be your mate.
But long before you reach that goal,
be sure to look deep in his soul.”
Searching Thomas’s eyes, she felt disappointment. He still didn’t like or trust Nate.
“Look, Rebekah, I wrote that weeks ago, before I got to know Nate better. Don’t pay it no mind.” When she still stared, he shook his head. “I was just trying to make sure you knew him before you lost your heart to him. But I think I sent it too late, didn’t I?”
Too late? Thomas’s warnings or anybody’s would’ve been too late from the moment Nate had rescued Andrew and her from the river. Rebekah ran her fingers over the lumpy scar on her cheek, then wagged her head. “It’s not your fault, Thomas. I—”
Boots clomping on the boardwalk kept her from finishing. The shop door swung open. Nate strode happily inside.
“Thomas, there you are. I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
Rebekah stared, the sight of Nate stealing her breath. He’d never looked so good, so happy, so at peace. She shoved the warning note back into her pocket.
Thomas reached to shake his hand. “Welcome back. I take it by the look on your face that all went well.”
“It did. I ran into no trouble at all.” Nate aimed his smile at Rebekah and nearly made her knees give out. “Hello, Rebekah.”
His deep voice had softened when he spoke her name. Her smile trembled. Oh, Lord, but I love him so. Please help me.
Hands shoved into his pockets, Nate dropped his gaze to the floor before returning it to Thomas, his expression humble. “I’ve been needing to apologize to you, Thomas.” He waved away Thomas’s attempt at denial. “Over the last few weeks, I’ve had a lot of time to think and pray, and I came to a very saddening and humiliating conclusion. I’ve been wrong about the way I choose my friends. By looking at a man’s outward appearance instead of his heart, I did a poor job at selecting friends. I let Henry’s proper speech and stature fool me into believing he was a gentleman, while I judged you and looked at you with scorn.” With a woeful shake of his head, Nate turned pleading eyes on Thomas. “I can only hope you’ll forgive me.”
Thomas stood in silence for a few moments, his own eyes turning red. Then he reached out his hand to shake Nate’s. “Done.” His voice gruff, he cleared his throat. “You’re a good man, Nate. You’ve become worthy of our Rebekah.”
That said, he clomped out of the store, leaving her alone with Nate. She sought his eyes, then looked away, embarrassed that Thomas would presume to say such a thing. When Nate remained silent, she chanced a glance at him.
His expression serious, he moved her way. “Is that true?”
“Is what true?” The question came out in a raspy whisper. Heat crawled up her neck, warming her face.
Nate stopped at the end of the counter. “That I’m worthy of you.”
She looked away, her hand going first to her scarred cheek, then to the silver disk at her throat. “Yes. Sure. Of course. You—you’re worthy of all the women in town.”
>
He crossed the distance separating them and held her by her arms. As much as she wanted to lean against him, breathe in his scent and feel his heartbeat against her own, she resisted, still holding the disk like a shield that would save her life.
“Look at me, Bek.” When she complied, he pulled her closer. “Why do you keep mentioning all the other women in town?”
Was he really unaware? Worse, was he being kind to the girl with the scarred face? The thought soured her stomach. Didn’t he know his good looks made all the ladies stare? “Because now that you’re back, they’ll go out of their way to get your attention.”
Frowning, he still held her tight. “But I don’t care about getting their attention.”
What did that mean? If he’d let her go, maybe she could think more clearly. “Does that mean you plan to leave town?” How would she manage to say good-bye to him forever?
With a quiet groan, he drew her closer. “No, Bek. That means it’s your attention I’ve been trying to get.”
Leaning her head back so she could see his face, she searched his eyes to see if he was serious. “What?”
A slight smile lit his face. “How can someone so beautiful be so slow to understand?”
The first part of his question was all she’d heard. Once again, she lifted her hand to cover her scarred cheek, hurt that Nate could be so cruel. “Don’t make fun, Nate. I can’t help that I’m scarred.”
Her throat thick with unshed tears, she could barely speak. She tried to pull away, but he wouldn’t release her. Then his hands slid from her arms to her cheeks. He tilted her face up until she was looking into his eyes.
“I’m not making fun, Bek. I think you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.”
His husky voice sent shivers over every part of her skin. “But my scars…”
He shook his head. “I haven’t seen your scars for weeks, Bek. All I’ve been able to see is your heart, the most beautiful and caring heart in the world.” Rubbing her cheekbones with his thumbs, he dipped his head low. “And just so you know, I think your face is incredibly beautiful too.”
Tears erupted from her eyes. Words escaped her. She could only shake her head, unable to believe what he’d said.
He kissed the tears, first from one eye, then the other. Then he moved to her lips and touched them lightly with his own. She felt him tremble. He released her, and she took a step forward to keep from falling.
She looked up at him and found him with that incredible smile. He reached down and took her hand in his.
“I know you don’t believe what I said, and just so you know, I’ve resigned from my post at the marshal’s office and accepted the position of sheriff here in town. When I’m not arresting lawbreakers, I’ll be working full-time at convincing you of my love and trying to get you to fall in love with me.” He leaned down until his nose bumped hers. “Because I do love you, Rebekah Weaver.”
His words were the most beautiful music she’d ever heard. Grinning, she rubbed her nose against his. “Then you can resign from that job too, because I already love you.”
Giving a whoop, he wrapped his arms around her. He lifted her feet from the ground and twirled her around. As he slowly lowered her back to the ground, he again touched his lips to hers, this time claiming them as his own.
“Oh, yuck. That’s nasty.”
They both turned to find Andrew standing in the doorway, disgust on his face. He pulled a snake from behind his back.
“I’d rather kiss this snake than do something as yucky as kiss a girl.”
Rebekah gasped at the sight of the vile creature and reached for her broom. “Andrew Robert Weaver, you get that thing out of here.”
Her brother’s eyes went wide as he looked at Nate. “She used my middle name.”
Andrew didn’t move until Rebekah took a step toward him, then he ran from the store yelling like she’d actually hit him. She glared up at Nate, shaking the broom and pointing at Andrew.
“There’s your first lawbreaker. Go arrest him.”
Before she could take a breath, Nate hooked her around the waist with one of his arms and pulled her against him, roaring with laughter.
“You’d better get used to that, sweetheart. I want a lot of sons just like him.”
Her heart soaring higher than ever before, she tried to look repulsed. “Oh, really? Don’t I get a say in the matter?”
“Yep.” He leaned down and gave her another kiss. “As long as you say yes.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck, feeling richer than if she owned the ore in all the mines around Silver City. “Yes.”
About the Author
Born and raised in southern Minnesota, Janelle Mowery spent hours reading a great many books in her childhood years. Her love of history, mystery, and stories led her toward her dream of writing novels. She began writing her first story in 2001, became a member of American Christian Fiction Writers in 2002, and signed her first contract in 2006. In 2008 Janelle released her first novel, Where the Truth Lies, a mystery she co-authored with Elizabeth Ludwig. Books two and three of the mystery series, Died in the Wool and A Black Die Affair, respectively, are slated for release in 2011. And the first book of Janelle’s Colorado Runaway trilogy will release in 2010. When Janelle is not writing, she loves reading, watching movies, researching history, and spending time in the great outdoors. She now resides in Texas with her husband of twenty-one years and their two sons.
www.janellemowery.com
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