by Rose Gordon
Joel’s strong arms encompassed her, offering her all the strength and comfort he possessed.“Would it sound heartless if I were to say I’m glad it wasn’t you who boarded that train?”
“No, it would have been heartless if you’d let me.”
“Yes, I would have been,”he agreed raggedly.“Because you’d have taken my heart right along with you to Montana.”
Chapter Fifteen
In what seemed like seconds Anna’s train was nothing more than a speck in the distance.
“I suppose it’s time I go home and tell Mrs. Fitzgerald the news,”Mr. Fitzgerald said solemnly.“Would you two like to caravan back with me?”
Joel shook his head. That wasn’t safe. Mr. Fitzgerald must not have understood earlier when Joel said they couldn’t go back. Of course they couldgo back, but who knew what Mr. Wilcox would do. As much as he might like to physically attach himself to Jessie, it wasn’t possible and he couldn’t risk her being hurt when he wasn’t around.“I need to go see a man here in town first. You go on. Godspeed and safe travels.”
Mr. Fitzgerald needed no more convincing and was soon back in his wagon on his way toward Williamsburg County.
“Do you really have something in town to do?”Jessie asked when they were back on their own buckboard.
“Of course I do.”Joel put his arm around Jessie’s waist and pulled her to him.“First, I need to go send a telegraph. Then, I need to go visit a bank.”Joel kissed the top of her head.“And then, I need to give my new bride a proper wedding night.”
Jessie blushed fiercely.
She was blushing again later that night when he carried her over the threshold of their hotel room.
He made it his mission to make a blush stain her cheeks each and every night for the next week.
As was her way, Jessie exacted her revenge on him in the daytime when he couldn’t do anything other than steer the wagon off the side of the road and take her behind some tree or building and kiss her until they were both delirious. And if nothing was available to shield them from anyone who might be passing by, he’d kiss her in broad daylight.
He’d never tire of it and judging by the flushed look on her face anytime they so much as kissed, he’d wager she’d never tire of intimacies with him, either.
Unfortunately, today her tricks weren’t working on him and it had nothing to do with her and everything to do with the daunting task ahead of him.
“Is something the matter, Joel?”she asked, her dainty fingers slipping the buttons on the top of his shirt and sneaking their way beneath the fabric to tangle in the hair that covered his chest.“You haven’t been responding to me today the way you usually do.”She gave a pointed look at his groin then frowned.“Have I done something to displease you?”
“No,”he choked, covering her hand with his. How did he explain this? By being blunt.“We’re going to arrive in Turley today.”
Her eyebrows furrowed.
“I have some investments at a bank there and I need to sign some papers. I sent a telegram to Mr. Hutchinson while we were in Charleston to let him know we’d be coming.”While he was there he’d also ask Mr. Hutchinson about selling his house for him. Or what was left of it. He had little doubt that Mr. Wilcox had put the puzzle together and had exacted his revenge on the only thing he could: Joel’s house.
“So the thought of investments makes you tense, does it?”she whispered in his ear, pressing feather-light kisses around the edge.
He wanted nothing more than to melt into her kisses and caresses, but now wasn’t the time. Tonight when they were both safe out of Williamsburg County and far away from Lancefield and Turley he would. Pulling away, he said,“No, the prospect that someone might see us and point your father in our direction does.”
Jessie sobered.“Oh.”A strange expression came over her face.“Do you really think anyone from Lancefield will be there to see us in Turley?”
“I don’t know. It was on the road to Turley that I first met your friend Anna and her family.”
Jessie started.“You did?”
Joel told her about the robbery and the investments Mr. Fitzgerald had insisted Joel take for his protection of his family.
“Is there anything else that’s happened in the last five years you haven’t told me about?”Jessie asked in amazement.
“I’m sure there is, but you’ll just have to discover it when it comes up.”
“I look forward to it.”
Joel steered the horses to the left, the buildings of Turley coming into view.“Well, at least one of us has something to look forward to. I’m not looking forward to this visit. Whoa,”he called to the horses.
They stopped in front of the tallest building on Main Street.
“This is it. Come in with me.”
Jessie looked hesitant and he wanted to laugh.“You look fine. Mr. Hutchinson doesn’t care how we dress as long as we have money to spend.”
“He sounds charming.”Jessie accepted his help down and walked with Joel into the bank.
Mr. Green, Mr. Hutchinson’s bespectacled secretary, showed them back to Mr. Hutchinson’s office.“He’ll be with you in a moment.”
Joel and Jessie sat in the chairs provided for the clients and waited. Then waited some more. And then a little longer.
Finally, when Joel was beginning to wonder if Mr. Hutchinson would ever see them, the door swung open.
“You need to leave,”Mr. Hutchinson said.“Now!”
Instinctively, Joel reached for Jessie.“What’s going on?”
Mr. Hutchinson closed his eyes for an extended blink then sighed.“It’s Mr. Wilcox. He—”Mr. Hutchinson leaned over his desk and pushed around the mess of papers until he found what he wanted. He handed it to Joel.
Joel’s heart missed a beat.
WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE
The drawing had an undeniable similarity to him. His eyes darted back and forth over the next few lines.
…Joel Cunningham…
…Kidnapping…
…$1,000 reward!
The paper fluttered to the floor, simultaneously all of Joel’s blood drained to his toes. He’d expected something, but not this.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Cunningham. I didn’t even know you were here. Mr. Green sent word to the deputy after he asked you to wait.”
“It’s all right,”Joel heard himself say, his mind racing.
Through the window a flash of movement caught his eye. Mr. Wilcox was there and so was the deputy. He pulled Jessie to him. She was his to protect now. He’d do everything he could to keep her safe, or die trying.
~*~
The room spun around Jessie. The only thing keeping her anchored to the floor was Joel’s strong, warm hands holding onto her shoulders. Instinctively, her hands covered his; his thumbs came up to settle just over her knuckles, a silent promise that they were in this together.
“Joel Cunningham,”came the deputy’s voice as the door to Mr. Hutchinson’s office flew open, revealing the deputy, Mr. Green, and her red-faced father.“You are under arrest.”
Joel stayed rooted to the floor.“No, you’re mistaken.”
“Jessie, my baby,”Papa blubbered, leaving the deputy’s side and rushing over to Jessie. The cold, menacing storm brewing in his eyes bespoke of his real feelings at seeing her again. He was furious.“You, stupid girl,”he hissed in her ear.“You’ll pay for this.”
Joel pulled his right hand from Jessie’s shoulder and grabbed her father by the nose, gripping it so hard between his thumb and forefinger audible snapping noises could be heard.
“Unhand him,”the deputy barked.
Joel tightened his grasp and twisted, then reluctantly let go.
“Arrest this man at once,”Papa demanded, twin rivulets of blood streaming from either side of his nose and onto his lips. He swiped at the blood with his wrist, smearing it on his white shirt.
“On what grounds?”Joel demanded, moving to step in front of Jessie.
“Kidnapping,”Pap
a spat.
“He has done no such thing,”Jessie defended, craning her neck to see around Joel’s wide shoulders.“I went to his house and asked him to drive me to Charleston.”
“Is that true?”the deputy asked.
“Of course it’s not true,”Papa barked, his face almost the same shade as the blood trickling from his nose.“He’s threatened her to tell lies to protect himself. Now, arrest him!”
“No,”Jessie said fiercely, coming out from behind the safety of Joel’s forearm.“He has never asked me to lie for him. Never. Nor has he ever threatened me.”She swallowed the sob that had formed in her chest.“All he’s ever done is protect me from your lies and threats.”
Papa’s breathing became labored, the vein in his forehead bulging.“I have never lied about anything, my dear,”he said silkily. He reached for her and Jessie pulled away.“Nor have I ever threatened anyone.”
“Yes, you have, you threatened Joel—”Her husband’s strong hands were again on her shoulders, gently urging her to move aside.
She did not.
“Is that what he told you?”Papa said in a tone of velvet-covered steel.“I would never threaten Joel.”He leered at her.“Don’t you know I love him just as much as I love you?”
She didn’t doubt that.“Good,”she said as calmly as she could, reaching for Joel’s hand.“Then you won’t mind having him for a son-in-law.”
“A what?”Papa thundered, all pretense of a loving and concerned father forgotten.“You stupid girl, what have you done? And you—”he looked up to Joel, his nostrils flaring and his chest heaving with every labored breath.
“I made her my wife, sir,”Joel said easily, his words leading Papa’s eyes to bulge in their sockets.
“You what?”Papa said, lunging at Joel. He stopped short, falling to the ground, his right hand flew to his heart, and his mouth opened and closed like a fish. Then suddenly, his body went still.
“Mr. Wilcox,”the deputy said, bending down to shake his shoulder.
No response.
“He looks dead,”Mr. Green said without ceremony.
An eerie hush fell over the room. Joel pulled Jessie against his chest and Jessie waited for tears to come. Nothing.“I’m sorry,”Joel murmured in her ear.
She moved her head so she could see his face.“I hope you’re not apologizing for marrying me.”
“No,”Mr. Green said.“I think he’s apologizing for killing your fath—”
“Your father’s death,”the deputy cut in, scowling at the annoying man.“Young lady, I know this is a difficult time for you, but can I speak to you privately?”
Jessie followed the deputy from the room where she was asked to give an account of exactly what had happened the day she left, where all she’d been, and if she was absolutely certain that Joel hadn’t forced her in any way.
“Forced me,”she said with a scoff.“He might tell you it’s the other way around.”
“Then I’d say he’s more fortunate than I originally thought,”the deputy said, shaking his head before tucking his notebook into his pocket.“I think that’s all I need from you. Shall I return you to your groom so I can meet with the undertaker?”
Jessie allowed the deputy to escort her back into Mr. Hutchinson’s office where Joel and Mr. Hutchinson each held a thin stack of papers and were flipping through them. Thankfully, her father’s body had already been removed from the room.
“Are you ready?”Joel asked, standing.
“She’s all yours,”the deputy said.“I’ll send out a telegram letting others know you’re not a wanted man after all. Unfortunately, it could take a few days before everyone receives the notice so I’d suggest the two of you go home and stay there for a few days.”
Joel dropped a kiss on the crown of Jessie’s head.“That won’t be a problem.”
“Here, take this with you,”Mr. Hutchinson said, handing Joel another document.“Bring it back whenever you’re ready to sell.”
“Thank you.”Joel took the paper, then ushered Jessie out to the wagon. He untied Biscuits and Gravy from the hitching post and steered them in the direction of his home.
“Are you all right?”he asked Jessie when he could take the silence no longer.
“Would it make me sound cruel to say that I’m relieved?”The uncertainty in her tone tore at him.
“No,”Joel said quietly.“I had the same feeling when I received the news of my father.”
Companionable silence engulfed them again; an occasional squeeze of their interlocking hands their only form of communication.
“Looks like the house is still standing,”Joel commented, the familiar path to his house finally coming into view.
For some reason it felt awkward for Jessie to go into the house without Joel so she accompanied Joel to the barn to see to Biscuits and Gravy instead. Joel didn’t seem to mind her helping and showed her around, pointing out where the saddles and bridles and blankets were kept if she decided to ride one of the horses by herself.
“Are you ready to go inside?”Joel’s expression was strained, almost as if he were worried to take her inside his home.
Instinctively, she reached for his forearm.“It’s all right. I don’t mind”
“What’s all right?”His brows furrowed.“What do you not mind about?”
Jessie gestured toward his house and swallowed the lump in her throat.“The inside,”she said quietly, trying to spare his pride.
Laughter danced in his eyes.“Thank you.”He kissed her hand then led her toward his house.
It had been a few years since she’d been inside, but she’d never forget the stains and holes in the walls and the floor or the smell of liquor that seemed to seep up from the floorboards.
Joel released her hand and unlocked the door.“I must warn you, the furnishings are sparse.”
The door swung open and Jessie’s heart jumped into her throat. The once dark and dusty entryway that was once riddled with broken floorboards and dirty walls was painted a bright, flawless white. Her eyes dropped back to the floor and she blinked. She could have sworn there was once hickory wood on the floor, now it looked like maple. Her eyes caught on the red carpet runner on the stairs. That was new, too.
“You’ve redecorated,”she said quietly, shame for her earlier assumption that the inside of the house would match the outside washing over her.
“Repaired,”he corrected, closing the front door.“And redecorated.”
Joel put his right fist on his hip, making his elbow point out toward her.“Shall I give you the grand tour?”
Jessie swallowed uncomfortably.“I’d be delighted.”
Joel took her room by room, telling her what all he’d changed. In short, everything.
From the plaster on the ceiling, to the paint on the walls—and even some walls themselves, all the way down to the floorboards, he’d changed it all. Even the furniture was gone, replaced only with a few pieces that were undoubtedly Joel’s tastes. Several of the rooms looked different…almost as if they were smaller than she remembered or not quite located in the same place she remembered them being.
“Why did you do all of this?”she asked, amazed.
Joel motioned toward the sofa in the parlor.“Come, sit with me. I’ll tell you everything.”
She sat down, making a mental note of how soft the cushions were.
“Before my parents died, I’d been renting a little apartment in town. I tried to sell this house, but Mr. Harper at the bank laughed in my face, telling me I’d have to pay him to take it.”A self-deprecating smile bent his lips.“It was in terrible disrepair, Jessie. For a while I stayed in town and worked at the lumberyard. But between renting my apartment and repaying existing debts against the house my pay wasn’t enough and I had to move back in.”He traced the edge of the sofa with the tip of his index finger.“I hated it and everything I saw that reminded me of my father, I had to destroy.”His emotions, raw and naked grabbed her heart and squeezed.
“So I tore it down.”His e
yes wandered around the room before locking with hers again.“Piece by piece, it all needed to be replaced and changed until I didn’t expect to see him every time I turned a corner. It took a while doing all the work myself and only having a budget of the monthly interest from my stocks, but I didn’t want help or a loan.”
“So this is why you were able to take me to Charleston,”she marveled.
He nodded slowly, intertwining their fingers.“The other day when you asked what I did for work, I didn’t answer because I didn’t know how to explain this—or even if I was ready to.”
“But you are now?”
Joel made a show of looking around the room.“I didn’t think I had a choice but to explain it now. You’ve seen it.”
“Yes, but you didn’t have to explain it all to me.”
“I’m glad I did.”He crossed his booted ankles and kicked the sides of his feet together.“Today I told Mr. Hutchinson to sell my stocks so I can fix the outside as soon as possible and we can sell it and move on.”
“Move on?”she echoed.
Joel tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear.“Wherever you want to go.”
Truthfully, she loved the land Joel’s house sat on. So many wonderful memories surrounded this place for her. As for the inside…Just like he’d said, he’d changed it so much she barely recognized it as the same house he’d once lived in.“And if I want to stay here? Would you stay?”
“What was that you told me right before our wedding?”Joel cocked his head to the side as if he were straining to dig deep into his memories.“Oh, I remember what it was.”He used the tips of three of his fingers and tipped up her chin.“As long as I’m with you, I don’t care where we go.”
Epilogue
One Year Later
Humming to herself, Jessie walked around the porch in her bare feet. She loved everything about this house. From the way it sat on the familiar land she roamed as a child to the way the inside was familiar, yet different.
