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

by Brendan, Maggie

  I can’t wait to hear from you about your marriage. Will you be living above the mercantile store? I hope you’ve made a new friend. Being away from family can be so hard.

  I know this was a difficult choice for you to make after losing Bryan, but I’m glad you’re ready to look forward to your future and not at what could have been. Write me all about Central City. I look forward to reading once the children are in bed.

  In closing, I wanted to share some exciting news—I’m pregnant again! We are ecstatic and happy to be filling our home with children. Our blessings overflow. God has given us back the years the locusts have eaten—and I’m not speaking about the wheat crop. I can almost see the smile on your face as you read this.

  I look forward to hearing from you soon. Sending you my prayers and blessings on your new life.

  Love,

  Catharine

  Greta was lonely for her family but filled with joy for Catharine. Setting the letter aside, she made a mental note to write Catharine tomorrow. She lay back on her pillow, pulling the cover up to her chin, glad that she’d gone to see Jess when she did. Funny how they both shared grief over the same person, but until a few days ago, they hadn’t known each other’s pain. God worked in mysterious ways, Granny had told her when they were sewing. Greta had to agree.

  Lying in the dark, she dreamily thought of her evening with Jess. The conversation at his place about his brother made it clear to her that they had connected on a deeper level than ever before. Her thoughts drifted to his lingering kisses and his hand holding hers as they cuddled. It was a nice way to end the day with the one you love. Which only made her wonder what it would be like to be his wife and be held in his arms every night. She blushed at the thought and wondered if Jess was in his bed right this minute thinking of her too.

  26

  Greta turned sideways in her seat to wave once again to Granny, who stood in the yard as she and Caleb drove away in the early morning light. Granny had treated her like her own daughter while Greta allowed her foot to heal for a few days. Today she had neatly wrapped it so Greta was able to get her foot back into her shoe, and although it felt snug, it felt much better. And the dress was done—with the two of them sewing, it wasn’t long before they’d whipped up the dress for Agnes. Greta felt proud of the creation, which gave rein to a whole host of other possible designs in her head.

  While she enjoyed her respite with Granny and her delicious meals, she realized just how much she’d missed Cora. Their friendship was special, considering how they’d met, and being outsiders automatically gave them a closer link. Like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, their lives were being neatly pieced together with the two Gifford brothers, Granny, and their unique friendship.

  “We’ve missed you at the store,” Caleb declared, loosely holding the reins while giving Stomper his way. “Jess can’t seem to get a thing straight or keep track of stuff.”

  Greta laughed. “I’m so glad to be missed, even if it was more for my work performance than for my amicable personality.”

  Caleb’s face reddened. “Aw, you know what I mean.”

  “Ja, I do, Caleb. I was only teasing.” Greta smiled. “What a fine morning we have. Cold in the morning, then warm by noon. I really love living in America.”

  “It’s especially nice to be up before Black Hawk and Central City wake up and everyone gets to hustling through the streets. Kinda nice and quiet right now, just the birds and the breeze blowing the leaves around,” Caleb remarked.

  Greta breathed in the fresh morning air. Not much space separated the two towns, Greta thought as she took note of the brick buildings and a few weathered clapboard ones. Granny told her that most of Central City had burned in a fire back in 1874.

  A movement from Caleb’s left jolted her to the present, and Caleb jerked the reins, bringing the buckboard to a standstill. A horse and rider had come from behind a boulder that edged the dusty road and stopped a few feet away from them. The rider had a black kerchief around his face and nose and leaned against the saddle horn with a penetrating gaze.

  “Ach! What’s the meaning of this?” Greta exclaimed.

  “Well now, you’re right purty, little lady. My, my, if it ain’t my cohort, Caleb. Who’s your new lady friend?” The rider snickered. “Isn’t she a bit outta your league?”

  How did he know Caleb’s name? Greta’s heart began to pound against her ribs. He didn’t seem to be much of a threat . . . but then again, why did he ride with a mask over his face?

  “Not that it’s any of your business, but she’s not my lady friend! I’m not your cohort in crime either. I’ve left that old life behind me.” Caleb stiffened. “What do you want, Jack?”

  Jack’s dark eyes narrowed at them. “I won’t go pulling my gun on you since we’re friends, but the purty lady there can toss me her reticule and her nice ear bobs I see dangling.”

  “I will not!” Greta blurted out, folding her arms and holding the reticule tighter. She didn’t have much money, but she sure wasn’t going to let him get his dirty paws on it.

  “What’s that you say?” Jack smirked, pulling down his kerchief. He looked only a year or two older than Caleb, ruggedly handsome, but in bad need of a shave.

  Without warning, Jack slid off his horse’s back and in two strides had made his way to Greta. He reached out to grab her arm, but Caleb was quicker. He lunged at Jack from the wagon and landed on top of him, forcing them both to the ground in a heap of flying arms and legs, their hats flinging in different directions.

  Jack’s surprise almost made Greta giggle, but this was no laughing matter. She tensed, standing up to watch the fight. Lifting bags of grain and flour and eating three square meals a day seemed to give Caleb the advantage.

  Dust flew upward, choking Greta. She covered her mouth and watched as the men struggled to their feet.

  “Don’t let him get the best of you, Caleb!” Greta cheered him on. When Jack’s fist found Caleb’s side, she gasped and held her breath. And though he landed a punch in Caleb’s midsection, Caleb came back with a punch to his stomach. While he was doubled over, Caleb landed another right hook to Jack’s chin, knocking him to his knees. Jack wiped the blood from his jaw and lip and stared up at Caleb, swearing under his breath.

  “I suggest you get back on your horse and hightail it outta here before I have to knock some more sense into you.” Caleb was breathing hard, his hair hanging down in his face. He bent over to knock the dust off his hat, then slammed it back on his head, jaw clenched in a hard line. “Or maybe I should haul you off to see the sheriff.”

  Jack swaggered to his feet, a bright blotch of red oozing where his lip was split. “I gotta give it to you, kid, you’ve gotten stronger in more ways than one.” He wiped his mouth on his sleeve and reached for his hat. “Sure you’re happy living with that feisty blonde-haired beauty?” he asked, climbing back on his horse.

  Greta could no longer keep silent. “I can guarantee he’s a whole lot happier than you, so why don’t you get on out of here while you still have some dignity in that bashed-in face of yours?”

  Jack sneered at them. “That’s too bad, honey. Me and you could’ve made some sweet music.” He jabbed his horse’s side and tore off down the road, leaving a wake of dust.

  Caleb climbed back into the wagon, and Greta gasped when she saw his rapidly swelling black eye. “Caleb, you want to turn back to Granny’s and let her doctor your eye?”

  Caleb winced when she touched his brow. “Naw, I’ll be okay. It’s not the first one, and I reckon it won’t be the last one either.” He picked up the reins and said “giddyap” to Stomper, and they continued on their way.

  She laid her hand over his. “Thanks for protecting me that way. You could’ve been hurt—or shot.”

  “Jack may be notorious, but at one time he was my friend when I was on the road. I knew he wouldn’t really hurt us.”

  Greta was still reeling from the entire incident, but she smiled inwardly that Caleb seemed to have ma
tured and changed his ways since Jess took him in.

  By the time they reached the store, everyone was busy with morning customers. Cora paused from wrapping her patron’s package and gasped when Caleb and Greta entered the store. “My goodness, what happened to you?”

  “There was a robbery attempt, and Caleb protected me in a fistfight with the robber,” Greta declared, giving the young man a quick hug. “As you can tell, he won, because we’re here safe and sound.”

  “Fistfight?” Zach hurried over, and others gathered near to listen.

  “Aw, it’s nothing. I’d do it all over again.” Caleb looked embarrassed. He placed the wrapped parcel that held Agnes’s dress on the counter.

  Cora took him by the arm. “It’s exactly what one would expect of you. Now come in the back of the store and let me have a look. I see a knot forming at your temple.”

  “If I thought I could get all this attention from the two ladies, I’d love to have been in your shoes, Caleb.” Jess winked at Caleb, his hands on his hips. His dirty apron already showed a day’s work.

  “I’m really fine, boss,” Caleb said sheepishly.

  “Well, let Cora take a look.” Turning to Greta, Jess said, “It’s nice to have you back. I see you’re not hobbling either.” His eyes twinkled at her.

  Zach stood next to his brother. “Let me add that we’ve missed you. In a short time, you’ve kept this place running like clockwork.”

  “Thank you.” Greta smiled broadly at both men. “My foot is much better. It’s best if I keep moving it and stretching it, or so Granny says.”

  “She knows best. Better listen to her expert advice. Give me your cape and I’ll hang it up,” Zach said. He reached for her cape and walked to the pegs in the back of the store.

  “Looks like the store’s busy this morning, and it’s early yet,” Greta said, glancing across the room.

  “People like to get a head start before the midday temperatures rise,” Jess said. “Oh, by the way, the table and chairs came today from Denver. I placed them near the potbellied stove. Cora said it was the perfect place for them.”

  Greta clapped her hands. She remembered that Jess hadn’t liked the idea when she’d first approached him about it. “Oh, thank you, Jess. I can see that two customers are already taking advantage of a little respite. I knew that it would be just the thing! The customers are going to love it, I know.”

  Zach returned with her apron. “Here ya go, madam. Want to go check out the table and see if it’s what you wanted?”

  She slipped the apron over her head and was aware that both men were watching her, but she pretended not to notice. Jess regarded her a moment, then turned on his heel and walked away. She followed Zach to the table. Rose Potts and Hilda Barnes were enjoying a cup of cider and looking through the Montgomery Ward catalog. Both stopped their chatter and smiled as she walked over.

  “I hear this little space by the stove was your idea, Greta,” Rose said.

  “And what a cozy thought. It will be most welcomed by Jess’s customers, particularly on a cold winter day,” Hilda added.

  “Greta’s been a mighty good addition to our staff,” Zach said.

  “Oh, I’m sure she has. But I hear you two will be tying the knot soon. After all, that’s why Greta’s here, isn’t it?” Hilda’s brows quirked.

  “Right you are. I was just saying what a valuable asset she’s become to both me and Jess.” Zach shifted uncomfortably on his feet and gave a forced smile. “Excuse me, ladies. I have a customer.”

  Zach had definitely skirted around giving a wedding date, and Greta planned to do the same. “Ladies, I’m glad you’re enjoying our cozy nook. Is there anything that I can help you with today?” Greta asked, hoping her voice sounded cheerful.

  Rose laughed. “We’re just wasting time. We’ve finished shopping. But I suppose now it’s time to get back home.” She stood, picking up her handbag. “We heard you were at Granny’s recuperating from a twisted ankle. I do hope it’s improved.”

  Greta reached for their used mugs and cleared the table as Hilda stood. “Thank you, it’s much, much better. You both have a nice rest of the day.”

  “See you at church then,” Rose said as she and Hilda slipped out the door, chatting.

  Greta continued toward the stairs to place the dirty mugs in the kitchen, but Jess stopped her.

  “I’ll take those upstairs. You shouldn’t be running upstairs on your foot, Greta,” he said softly.

  She loved how her name sounded as it fell from his lips, and she tried not to focus on his mouth but dragged her eyes upward to his soft brown eyes. He appeared to want to say more when he reached for the mugs, his hands briefly brushing hers, but Cora and Caleb walked up.

  “Our hero is faring well, I’d say,” Cora informed them. “I cleaned his eye and put a cold compress on it for a few minutes.”

  Jess grinned at Caleb. “It’s going to look a whole lot worse than it feels tomorrow. And by the way, Zach and I thank you for taking care of Greta.”

  Caleb shrugged. “It’s the least I could do. I don’t want to go back to life with the likes of Jack.”

  “Amen!” Cora said.

  Jess clapped him on his back. “Then you won’t have to. Besides, you’ll soon be going to school and will meet a whole passel of new friends.”

  “Respectable ones, I hope,” Cora said.

  “I can’t thank you all for how good you’ve been to me the last few days. I don’t deserve it.” Caleb’s eyes moistened.

  “Sure you do,” Jess answered. “But enough lollygagging. We’ve got work to do.”

  “I need to see Rascal. I’ve missed him. Where is he?” Greta asked.

  “Caleb has him tied under the shade tree out back because he was underfoot this morning,” Cora said. “I’m sure he’s missed you so.”

  “Is it okay if I bring him back in now that it’s not so busy?” Greta looked at Jess for an answer.

  The men just rolled their eyes and watched as Greta made her way past them to the back door in search of her precious puppy.

  Rascal barked when he saw her coming and pulled against the rope, obviously happy to see her. She bent down to kiss his furry head, then picked him up. “You missed me. I missed you too, Rascal.” He licked her face and hands with his warm tongue, making her giggle. She unclipped the rope from his neck and entered the back door and hallway. She had a clear view of the counter through the doorway, and what she saw made her heart sink.

  27

  Jess was looking for a catalog item for a customer when he saw a folded page with a circle around Blue Willow dishes. Now who was ordering those? He couldn’t remember anyone asking about them, but maybe Cora or Greta knew.

  It had taken all the self-control he had not to kiss Greta soundly when she walked in today. His ardent feelings for her more than surprised him, since taking on a bride hadn’t even been in his realm of thought several weeks ago. But now he didn’t know how he could do without her. He loved her laughter, her exuberance for life . . . and though he hated to admit it, she’d kept him organized and on track with the store. On the porch swing with her, he’d felt comfortable and contented, as if he’d known her all his life. A smile formed as he stared out the front windows.

  Cora finished with a customer and walked over to where he stood gazing into space. “Jess . . . Jess,” she said, clearing her throat. “Should I go make a fresh pot of coffee for our customers, or perhaps cider?”

  “Hmm?” Jess sprang back to the present, feeling guilty for daydreaming. “Oh . . . yes . . . sure thing.” What am I going to do, Lord? How do I tell sweet, gentle Cora that I can’t marry her?

  She looked down at the page he pretended to peruse. “I guess you saw where I circled the Blue Willow china. I’m thinking I’d like to order that for Greta as a wedding gift. They are a bit pricey, though. What do you think?”

  Jess swallowed hard. “That’s a nice present, but I think there may be some of those dishes of my mother’s in Gr
anny’s attic. Dishes all look the same to me, though, to tell you the truth. If you’d care to go through a bunch of stored boxes up there, you can take what you want.”

  “Really? Oh, Jess, do you think you could take me to Granny’s and let me see if I can find them?”

  “Sure. We can do it later this afternoon.”

  She flung her arms around his neck and kissed him with joy on the cheek. “You’re so sweet to me. This is going to be the perfect wedding gift for my dear friend. She will love them,” Cora whispered. “Now don’t tell.”

  Jess saw the sparkle of excitement in her eyes, and it was clear in his mind just how quickly the two ladies had become friends. He smiled back, then gently peeled her arms from around his neck. It flustered him for her to show her affection, and he knew she expected a kiss in return, but he just couldn’t give it, so he said, “I don’t mind at all, Cora.” He took a step back and saw Greta holding Rascal as she entered the hallway. Had she seen the kiss? He hoped not. Her face showed no emotion to indicate that she had.

  ———

  “I’m going upstairs to make coffee, and I’ll return in a flash, Greta,” Cora told her friend.

  Greta stood like a statue, observing the flush on Cora’s cheeks. A tiny piece of her heart had died in that moment when she witnessed her and Jess’s kiss. Was he playing them both? She was a fool for thinking he loved her in such a short time. But she hadn’t wanted to be like all the other mail-order brides she’d heard about who got married as soon as they stepped off the train. Some of those marriages of convenience worked, and others had turned out disastrously. She wanted her marriage to mean something. As Cora had said, she wanted to hear “I love you.” There was little chance of that now.

  And what about Cora? First Greta had seen her in Zach’s arms, and now Jess’s. What was going on? She’d have to find out, even if it meant confronting Cora directly.