Twice Promised (The Blue Willow Brides Book #2): A Novel

by Brendan, Maggie

  “Here’s a good cold steak,” Jess said, placing the meat on the table next to Greta’s chair.

  Cora and Granny came bustling through the screen door. “Here we are, my little lamb,” Granny said. “You just sit still while Cora and I wrap your foot tightly.” She and Cora worked quietly, winding the bandage around her instep and ending right above the ankle, then tying it in place with strips of muslin. When she was satisfied it was secure, Granny nodded to Zach to place the cold steak on Greta’s foot.

  “Now, I hope you know, Jess, that she’s not going to be able to work for a day or so. She shouldn’t be hobbling around on a swollen foot,” Granny said, her hands on her ample hips.

  “Hmm . . . you’re right, of course. But I have more than enough help.” Jess leaned against the porch railing and folded his arms. Greta felt her face flush as his eyes honed in on her.

  “I have a suggestion. Why don’t you let Greta rest her foot here for a few days? I’ll take good care of her. It’d be better than being at the hotel. What do ya say?” Granny cocked her head at Jess.

  “Oh, I can’t be a burden to you, Granny!” Greta protested.

  “Shh, you’ll be no such thing!” Granny turned back to Jess. “Well?”

  “Seems logical to me.” Jess scratched his chin thoughtfully.

  Granny smiled at Cora. “You’ll be able to have a few days alone too.”

  Cora shrugged her shoulders. “It doesn’t matter to me. I enjoy the company, but if Greta needs to rest her foot, then this is the perfect solution.” Cora snuck a glance at Zach, who up to this point had said little, but the look didn’t go unnoticed by Greta.

  “It’s settled then. You stay here with Granny. Caleb can fetch your things and run ’em over here,” Jess said.

  Greta bolted up and the steak slid sideways, but Zach caught it and held it in place. “But I’ve got to work on Agnes’s dress!” she said.

  “And you shall.” Granny spun around to Caleb and Zach. “I hate to do this to you boys, but you’re gonna have to unload that sewing machine. She can work on the dress while she’s with me.”

  “I’ll collect the material and pattern pieces and give them to Caleb to bring with a change of clothing,” Cora added.

  Zach and Caleb went back to unload the sewing machine while Granny fussed over Greta.

  “I’m so grateful, Granny, but I hate to impose on you,” Greta said.

  “Ha! Impose? I’ve never had anyone impose on me, I’ll tell you. If I didn’t ask ’em, then they weren’t invited, pure and simple!”

  “Back in the parlor, Granny?” Zach asked, once he and Caleb were on the porch.

  “Yes, please,” Granny said, holding the screen door open for them.

  “Cora, I think we all better get on back so you can pack up a few things for Greta,” Jess said, then leaned down to speak to Greta. “Don’t let Granny boss you around. She tends to take matters into her own hands.”

  Greta could feel his lips brush her hair as he spoke and was thrilled that he was so near, but outwardly she kept her composure.

  Cora bent down to Greta. “You take it easy. If you want me to come over and help with the dress, I can. I know Jess can spare me.”

  “I’ll help her cut out the dress. It’ll be my pleasure to do that.” Granny smiled at Cora as she saw them to the wagon, as though eager for her company to leave. Greta had to smile to herself and admire Granny’s take-charge ability. This could be an interesting few days . . .

  22

  Caleb was whittling on the edge of the steps, his head bent as he intently studied the piece of wood, when Jess finally found him. Rascal lay curled on top of his feet. “There you are! I came to see if you wanted to join me over at Mabel’s for an early supper.”

  Caleb glanced up in surprise and stuffed the piece of wood and knife back into his pocket. “Sure, I’m not one to refuse a good meal.” He clomped down the steps, and the two of them headed down Main Street.

  It was a superb day, Jess thought. Cloudless and with comfortable temperatures, but he knew it wouldn’t last too long. In high country, it could all change as fast as a jackrabbit could acquire relatives. He was already missing Greta around the store, and it seemed quieter somehow. He couldn’t help but notice that Cora seemed to sidestep him whenever he was near. Or was she just busier since Greta had left?

  “You’re walking awful fast, Jess. Something on your mind?” Caleb huffed, trying to keep up with him.

  “Yep. Got a few things on my mind lately, but right now my stomach is eating my backbone, and I’m looking forward to some of Mabel’s chicken-fried steak and gravy.”

  “Where’d Zach get off to? I noticed him leave a little while ago, but he never said where.”

  “He’s checking out some steers that he wants to buy for his little farmette. ’Course, he has no way of keeping them enclosed on his property, so the next thing you know we’ll be stretching some fence line.”

  “I’ve done a little of that back home. I could help if he’d be willing to pay me.”

  Jess glanced sideways at Caleb. “Well . . . that just might be a good thing for him and you, but I wouldn’t expect he’ll pay much. He’s just getting started on this dream of his, you know.”

  “Everyone has dreams,” Caleb muttered barely above a whisper, but Jess heard him.

  “Including you, Caleb. That’s what I want to talk to you about. But let’s eat first. We can talk over a piece of Mabel’s cheesecake.” They’d reached Mabel’s, and as soon as they entered her café, she greeted them cheerily.

  “You boys want the specialty of the house, I take it?” Mabel beamed at them as they sat down.

  “You know we do. Make sure you heap Caleb’s plate high—he’s got a hollow leg.” Jess removed his hat and placed it next to him on the bench. He nodded to Caleb to do likewise and heard Mabel’s humph.

  “Coming right up then.” She lumbered off, shouting orders to the cook who she insisted was her right arm, though she did most of the cooking.

  Jess waited until he and Caleb were finished eating and had ordered a slice of Mabel’s cheesecake before he broached the subject that was uppermost in his mind.

  “Caleb, I’ve been impressed with how you’ve shown me what a hard worker you are. I know you don’t want to sleep on a cot in my kitchen for too long, so I wanted to talk to you about your future.” He watched as Caleb set his water glass down and shot a look at him.

  “I have no place to go. I really don’t mind the cot. I’m not going back home.” Caleb’s jaw was set in a stubborn clinch. “But if you want me to find someplace else to live . . .” His voice trailed off.

  Jess shook his head, suddenly realizing that Caleb wasn’t a confident young man. He hoped he could change his self-esteem. “No, nothing like that. I got to thinking how you said you enjoyed being around animals and even mentioned that you might like to be a doctor one day.” He paused to see if he was getting Caleb’s full attention, then continued. “Perhaps you would like to go to college and learn about working with animals. A friend of mine told me about the Agricultural College of Colorado at Fort Collins. You’d have to learn animal husbandry since they don’t have a veterinarian department yet, but the school is planning on offering that next year. Then you’d have all that knowledge under your belt. What do you say?”

  Caleb stared at him like he’d grown two heads and wasn’t sure which one to speak to first. “How do you propose that I get the tuition for that?”

  Jess scratched his day-old beard. He’d forgotten to shave this morning. “We’ll work on that. Do you think that your father would pay for part of it? You are still his son, after all.”

  Caleb snorted. “I might be his son, but he won’t do it. Only if I said I’d take over the dairy farm—which I’ll remind you, I won’t.”

  Mabel plunked down two slices of cheesecake garnished with her strawberry preserves and poured steaming coffee for them. When she saw they were having an intense conversation, she moved away
to wait on her other customers.

  “We’ll figure something out. I’ve requested an application for the fall, just in case you were interested, and have it right here in my pocket. We’ll know more about the cost once we send it back tomorrow. Meanwhile, you can continue to work for me and maybe Zach.” He watched as Caleb’s serious face took on a bright look, and the creases in his forehead relaxed.

  “Wow! Why do you want to do this for me? Especially after I—”

  Jess held up his hand. “Let’s just say that I had a younger brother who was bent on getting away from Central City. He did—but now I visit his grave.” Jess looked away from Caleb, astonished he’d blurted that out.

  Caleb nearly choked on the cheesecake. Laying his fork aside, he said, “I’m sorry, Jess. I didn’t know. Do you mind telling me what happened to him?”

  “Guess there’s no harm in that. It might help you understand just how short your life can be.” Jess went on to relate about his brother’s death, then his parents’. When he’d finished, Caleb just sat back in his chair and shook his head.

  “So you see, that’s part of the reason I gave you a chance to redeem yourself when you robbed us. I knew you were still wet behind the ears. I don’t mind helping someone who wants to be helped.” Jess shoved his chair back and dug in his pocket to pay for the meal.

  Caleb’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “Gosh . . . thank you just the same. You and Miss Cora have been very kind to me. But you and Greta have been good to me too.” He winked at Jess.

  Now what did he mean by that? “You’re welcome. But you have to promise me something.” Jess laid the bills on the table and grabbed his Stetson.

  “Anything.” He smiled at Jess.

  “I want you to write to your parents and at least tell them where you are and what you’re up to. Can you do that?” Jess was standing now, and he stared down at Caleb.

  Caleb wiped his mouth on the napkin and pushed back his chair. “I can try, but I’m not promising nothin’!”

  “That’s all I can ask. Come on, we’ve got customers to relieve Cora from, I’m sure.” He clapped Caleb across the shoulders, and they waved to Mabel across the room as they headed back to the store. For the first time, Caleb’s smile lingered.

  Cora was tallying a customer’s order, Caleb was sweeping and straightening shelves, and Jess was just about to go upstairs to make himself a cup of coffee when the front door jangled. Harvey walked in with mail in one hand and a package in the other. Harvey had been friends with Jess’s parents and grieved right along with them when Bryan was killed, and he took it hard too.

  “Howdy, Harvey! What brings you out this late? We’re about to close up shop.”

  “I wanted to bring you this package personally, ’cause it has a return address of the US Army at Fort Bridger. Thought it might be important,” Harvey said as Jess took the package. “And this here is a letter for Miss Greta Olsen.”

  Jess set the package on the counter, placing the letter on top. He noticed a Wyoming postmark in the upper left-hand corner. Greta’s sister, maybe? “You didn’t have to bring it over. I’d have made it over to the post office at some point this week. I guess I just keep forgetting.”

  The gray-haired man’s eyes narrowed in amusement. “It’s no bother. How long have I known you?”

  Jess grinned sheepishly. “I know, I know . . . me and my habits. Just the same, I appreciate it.”

  Cora finished with her customer and walked over.

  “Well, now, is this the pretty bride I hear you’re gonna marry?” Harvey asked.

  “How’d you know?” Jess asked.

  Harvey chuckled. “The whole town knows. News always spreads like wildfire.” He turned to take Cora’s hand and introduced himself. “Golly, I think you got lucky this time, Jess.”

  Cora blushed, tilting her head up at the older man. “It’s nice to meet you, Harvey. I could be responsible for getting the mail for Jess. That is, if he’ll let me.” She glanced at him.

  Jess shrugged. “Whatever you’d like.”

  “Seems only right that your wife could do that little chore for you. So when’s the big day?” Harvey beamed at the two of them.

  “Well, uh . . .” Jess shuffled his feet and Cora gazed down at the floor. “Not sure just yet, but we’ll let you know. It’ll probably be a short, simple ceremony. Maybe at the justice of the peace.”

  “Really? Too bad, I love wedding cake. If you need anything, anything at all, just give me a holler. I’ll be going now and let you open your box.” He gave a nod to Cora, then hurried out the door.

  “Jess.” Cora moved close to him beside the counter. “We need to talk about our wedding.”

  He looked into her soft brown eyes, wondering how on earth he could break her heart. “Yes . . . we will soon. I think I’ll go open this package right now while I’m having coffee. You can leave and tell Caleb to lock up. We’re done for the day.”

  “But don’t you want to have dinner or something?” She gave him a dubious look.

  “Not tonight, Cora. You go on and have an evening to yourself and relax in that big room without Greta.” He hoped he sounded nonchalant since he wanted to be alone with the package, and he was glad that she removed her apron as he turned to take the stairs to their living quarters.

  Once he set the coffee to boil, Jess pulled out a chair and laid the letter for Greta aside. He’d get Caleb to run it over to her. He stared at the box he held in his hands for a moment, then taking a deep breath, he ripped the brown paper off and lifted the shoe box lid. Inside was a letter from Major John N. Andrews on sealed Army letterhead.

  Dear Mr. Gifford,

  Let me express my sympathy again for the loss of your brother a year ago. Though his body was sent to you by rail for burial, his personal effects were somehow overlooked. A soldier found this box in the barracks under his cot. I’m sorry for the delay in mailing this to you, and I pray that receiving it won’t bring up old wounds but will bring comfort as you read his journal.

  Sergeant Bryan Gifford was an excellent sergeant and well-liked by his comrades. I pray that this will help you and your family to have some peace and comfort regarding a deserving soldier who gave his life for his company.

  Kind Regards,

  Major John N. Andrews

  Fort Bridger, Wyoming

  August 1888

  Jess bowed his head as a tremendous sadness slid over him. He heard the coffeepot boil over, splattering the stovetop, so he leaped up and hurriedly grabbed a dish towel to remove the pot from the fire. He let the coffee grounds settle, all the while eyeing the box on the table. He found a clean mug and poured himself some coffee. Picking up the box, he stepped over to his easy chair next to the window, took a swig of coffee, then settled down to look at the box’s contents.

  There wasn’t a lot inside the box, and the first thing that caught Jess’s eye was the pocketknife he’d given Bryan one year for his birthday. He smiled when he saw that Bryan had kept the stripes he’d had when he was a private. A small Bible, a razor, a shaving mug, and a few loose buttons rattled around in the bottom of the box. Some letters tied with twine were nestled against what looked like a lady’s delicate handkerchief. Could this be Greta’s? He lifted it to his nose, and a delicate lavender scent filled his nostrils.

  The last item was an unfinished letter in a writing tablet. Bryan must’ve been called to duty when he was writing it. It was addressed to Jess, and seeing it now gave him an eerie feeling, making the past feel more like the present.

  With a deep sigh, Jess set the box on the floor and started reading his brother’s letter.

  Dear Jess,

  How’s my favorite brother? I hope this letter finds you doing well. While I miss home and Mama’s cooking, I’m learning to become more of a man with the duties entrusted to me, which will surely shape my life for the future. I plan to have a career in the Army.

  Speaking of which, I told you about the girl I’ve fallen for in my last letter. We were cour
ting frequently until I was called away to Fort Bridger. Since that time, we’ve become engaged! I know you, the folks, and Zach will love her too. Her name is Greta Olsen, and she’s from Holland. I can’t wait for you to meet her. We plan to be married soon and will make our way to Colorado when I get my next leave.

  We are perfect for each other. But if I had to pick another person for her, I’d have to say you, Jess, since I hold you in such high regard. Yes, you would be a good match, but I am the lucky one this time! I intend to write Mama again, but I wanted you to be the first to know about Greta. I know you never wanted me to leave Colorado, but now I’ve found someone I want to share my life with. I’m sure Granny will enjoy getting to know her too. Oh, and please give my love to Granny.

  We’ve had a few renegade Indians who have posed a threat in these parts of Wyoming, but we seem to have a handle on things in that regard . . .

  Jess put the letter aside and wiped his eyes, thinking fondly of his brother. His hands curled around his coffee mug as he stared at the busy street below. Even when Bryan was knee-high to a duck, as his older brother Jess felt responsible for him. Zach was just too impulsive to think about anyone besides himself, but that was just Zach. It didn’t mean he loved Bryan any less. Jess might not be able to remember to place an order or put things back in their places, and he didn’t care one bit if things were organized or not, but he’d tried to set a good example for his brothers and worked hard to earn their respect as their older brother.

  He could see why Greta had fallen hard for Bryan, with his dark, rugged good looks and gregarious nature. All the things Jess was not. Although he was flattered about what Bryan wrote. To think, his handsome younger brother thought enough of him to say that he was the only one worthy to love Greta. But how to convince her of that? He just didn’t know. He glanced over at her letters, tempted to open one and read of their words of love, but somehow he felt like that was betraying his younger brother. No, he’d give them to Greta.

  He removed her letters and put his letters back inside the box. He’d show it to Zach tonight. Heading downstairs, Jess called out to Caleb. “You down here, Caleb?”