All he needed was enough to pay off Hugh’s debt, and from what he recalled, they had everything they needed to purchase some of Archie’s land when they’d left Virginia. But there was the hat Hugh bought Winifred in order to replace the one he destroyed, thanks to Jack bumping into him. Perhaps there was even something else Hugh had to buy. Surely, everything couldn’t be so much he couldn’t pay the loan off with the sale of the ring and pocket watch.
If this was what he needed to do in order to spend the rest of his life with Maybell, it was worth it. Decision made, Jack said, “Yes, I’m sure.”
“Alright. But if I tell you an amount you don’t like, you don’t have to sell them to me if you don’t want to.”
Jack planned to take whatever the man was going to offer but kept silent while the man weighed the items on a scale.
After a minute, the man said, “The ring has 0.35 ounces of gold. I’ll give you $5 for it. The pocket watch has 0.5 ounces of gold in it. I’ll give you $7.50 for it. So that’s $12.50 for both if you want to sell them.”
Jack nodded. “I-I’ll take it.”
“Alright. All I need you to do is sign this.” He grabbed a contract from under the counter and placed it in front of him. “And I’ll get your money.” With a smile, he went to his cash box.
Jack released his breath. It was almost over. He’d made it through the transaction without any problems. He didn’t think it was possible to do so, but he had. This had to be a sign he was doing the right thing. He was meant to be with Maybell, and this was how he’d do it.
Picking up a fountain pen, he signed the paper authorizing the sale of the ring and pocket watch in exchange for $12.50. When he was done, he collected his money and left the shop. Already, he felt lighter than he had in years. He actually did it. He went to town and did something on his own, and he did just fine. Maybe it was Maybell. She must be bringing out the best in him.
“Jack?”
Turning to the familiar voice, he saw Ada. She was holding Fred while Pete walked beside her.
“I thought you looked familiar,” Ada said. “How are you?”
“D-doing good,” he replied.
“How’re Archie’s crops doing?”
He forced himself to inhale then said, “Good.” There. That wasn’t so bad. He wasn’t sure if it was because these were Maybell’s friends or because he wasn’t around Archie, but it wasn’t so difficult to talk to Ada.
Pete signed to Ada, and she handed Fred to him. Signing, she continued, “Pete wants to know what we’re saying. He said I might be making plans to run off with you.” She giggled. “He’s joshing, of course.”
Jack chuckled, further relaxing. “Tell him I don’t n-need to run off with you. I’m going to marry Maybell.”
Ada gasped and clasped her hands together. “You are?”
Jack nodded. “I haven’t asked yet, but she said I could court her. I think that’s as g-good as saying she’ll marry me.”
“You bet it is!” Pete tapped Ada on the arm, and she turned to him. “Oh, I forgot to keep signing. I better do so right away before he thinks you asked me to hop the next train with you.”
Grinning at her joke, Jack watched as Ada signed everything to Pete.
Pete smiled and gave Jack a congratulatory pat on the shoulder. Then he handed Fred back to Ada and signed. All Jack got from it were two familiar signs, and those were ‘good’ and ‘happy’. He looked at Ada to tell him what Pete said.
“Pete says he who finds a wife finds a good thing and that Maybell will make you happy,” she explained.
“I agree.” Jack signed the word ‘yes’ to Pete.
Pete continued to sign, but this time, Ada let out a long sigh.
“What did he say?” Jack asked.
“Oh, he thinks he’s being funny again, but this time he’s not.” Despite her words, the hint of a smile on her lips betrayed her amusement. “He says now you have someone who will cook and clean for you.” She watched as he did a couple more signs, and she shook her head.
Pete nodded and gestured for her to tell Jack to tell him what he’d just signed.
She handed Fred to Jack and signed back to Pete. The two signed back and forth for well over a minute, and Jack couldn’t tell what they were saying. He glanced at Fred who looked up at him and giggled.
Jack’s mouth twitched up. “Your parents are silly, aren’t they?” he whispered.
The boy giggled again, and Jack chuckled. He hadn’t held a child before, but it was nice. Someday, he’d get to hold the child Maybell gave him, and it’d be a lot like this.
“Oh, alright,” Ada finally said. Jack turned his attention back to her, and she closed the distance between them and lowered her voice. “Pete wants me to tell you the bed is a lot better with a woman in it, too.” Her face bright red, she took Fred back. She stepped back then spoke in a louder voice. “Sometimes I don’t know if I should have taught him sign language or not.”
Hoping to ease her discomfort, Jack motioned to the post office. “Have you checked your mail yet? I need to do that before I head back to Archie’s.”
“We should do that while we’re here,” Ada replied. “We’ll go with you.” She glanced at Pete and nodded toward the post office. Then, on their way to the small building, she added, “Pete and I were thinking of getting something to eat. Want to join us at the restaurant?”
“Yes,” Jack said.
The answer came out of his mouth so fast it surprised him. In the past, he wouldn’t have been ready to accept the offer, but something about having Maybell in his life made him feel easier about taking risks. And besides, Ada and Pete were nice people, the kind he enjoyed being around. Like Maybell and Hugh, they accepted him the way he was. With them, he didn’t have to worry if he stuttered a little from time to time or bumped into something. It only proved that coming to Nebraska was the best move he’d ever made.
***
Later that day, Jack held the invitation in his hand. Ever since he’d returned from town, he hadn’t seen Hugh or Archie anywhere. When he saw Maybell, she said they were in the fields for the harvest. Since there were other chores to be done, he did those so Maybell didn’t have to. She was cooking for them, and that was a full-time job in itself, considering how much he, Hugh, and Archie could eat. The poor woman didn’t need the extra work. After giving her a kiss, he took care of the animals.
Now, as he waited for Hugh in the bunkhouse, he tapped the invitation in his hand. It was from Alex and Opal Boyer, and they wanted Jack and Hugh to go to their home that Saturday at three for dinner.
This might be the only time he’d be able to talk to Hugh. If Hugh hadn’t been making it a point to avoid him all the time, he wouldn’t have even considered going to this dinner. Winifred would likely be there. But even as embarrassing as it would be to see her again, he’d deal with it if it meant he could talk to Hugh on the way there.
He tapped the invitation in his hand and stared at the door, willing Hugh to open it. Unlike Jack, there was no way Hugh would miss a meal, and there was no way Hugh would go to the house without washing up first.
The dinner bell rang, and he breathed a sigh of relief. Good. Hugh would be here any minute now. Jack straightened up and waited. He tried not to overthink what he was going to tell Hugh. If he did that, then he’d start stuttering and lose his nerve. He needed to focus on what he wanted. Only then could he push through the awkwardness in the moment.
He closed his eyes and thought of Maybell. She’d told him she wanted to be with him. More than that, she’d kissed him and didn’t mind it when he kissed her. In fact, she even smiled at him, encouraging him to kiss her more often in the future. And he would. They had an entire future together where they could kiss. Then kissing would lead to other things, and those thoughts excited him to no end.
The door opened, and he forced his attention back to the invitation. Before Hugh had the chance to leave, Jack went up to him and shoved the invitation at him.
“We’re going to this,” Jack said, using a tone that left no room for argument.
It was so unlike him, he knew, and Hugh’s shocked look only emphasized how unlike him this really was. But he had to do this. He didn’t have a choice. If he didn’t assert himself, then he wouldn’t get Maybell, and he’d never forgive himself if he let her go. So he had to do this for his future and for hers.
Before Hugh could overcome his shock, Jack hurried out of the bunkhouse, not daring to breathe again until he got to the barn.
Chapter Seventeen
Two days later, Jack paced back and forth in front of the wagon as he waited for Hugh to come out of the bunkhouse, so they could go the Boyers’ dinner. He didn’t know what was taking his brother so long. In the past, Hugh didn’t take so much time getting ready to go somewhere. Maybe it was because Hugh knew he couldn’t keep running away from him. Even if Hugh tried to avoid him, as he’d been doing ever since that morning at the pigpen, Jack was going to force the issue.
Too much was at stake, and Jack wasn’t going to stand by while Hugh married Maybell. She wanted to be with him as much as he wanted to be with her—and that meant they should be together. He’d made her a promise, and he would fulfill that promise, no matter what he had to do.
Jack glanced at the bunkhouse again. What was taking his brother so long? Irritated, he turned to go to the bunkhouse when the door finally opened and an excited Hugh Warren came striding out.
“Took you long enough,” Jack called out then climbed into the driver’s side. If he had to divert the horses and take Hugh out into the fields to make this conversation happen, then that’s what he’d do.
Jack’s gaze went to the house, and from the kitchen window, he saw Maybell wave at him. Smiling, he waved back.
Hugh got up next to him, bringing his attention back to him. “I thought I’d be doing the driving.”
Jack grabbed the reins and released the brake. He snapped the reins and led the horses forward. “Not tonight.”
With a shrug, Hugh said, “Alright.”
As anxious as Jack was to talk, he decided it was best to wait until they were off the property in case Hugh jumped out and ran back to the bunkhouse. The irony wasn’t lost on him. All these years, Jack had been the one who ran off and hid while Hugh chased after him, and now the roles were reversed.
“Archie told me he made a deal with you for Maybell’s hand,” Jack began. “Why don’t I pay off the small loan you took out? Then you won’t have to marry her.”
“You talked with Archie?” Hugh asked after a long moment passed between them. “That’s amazing.”
“Don’t sidestep the topic, Hugh. I’ve waited a long time to get a chance to talk to you about this. Archie’s serious about you marrying Maybell, but I love her and she loves me. I’ll pay the loan so you don’t have to do what he wants. How much do you owe?”
“Fifteen dollars.”
“Fifteen dollars?” Jack choked out in surprise. “What did you buy for fifteen dollars?”
His brother gulped. “Well, remember the hat incident when you bumped into me on the train and I knocked into Winifred?”
Jack nodded and waited for Hugh to add more to the fifteen dollars worth of expenses he’d accrued, but when he didn’t, he asked, “Are you telling me her hat cost fifteen dollars?”
Jack thought it might have been a couple dollars, or perhaps six or seven on the very high end. Never in a million years did he think it cost fifteen dollars.
“Yes, but I had to make things good since we were the ones who crushed the hat her sister gave her for the trip,” Hugh said. “You understand?”
“No, because I’ve never seen a hat that was more than ten dollars.”
“But you’ve never seen a hat specially shipped from a New York designer. She fell in love with it, and it matched her blue skirt perfectly.”
“Who cares if it matched or not? It was just a hat. All it had to do was cover her head.”
“I agree, but to women, especially Winifred, these things are important.”
Jack shook his head. He bumped into Hugh, and it cost them both fifteen dollars? How was he going to come up with the rest of the money to pay off the small loan? He’d already given away everything of value he had. There was nothing else to sell.
“I really wish you had involved me in the purchase of that hat,” Jack muttered.
“Listen, Jack,” he said, his tone bordering on anger, “you had the opportunity to go shopping with us that day. However, you chose to stay back at the train station, remember?”
“If I’d known that hat was going to be ridiculously expensive, I would have gone.”
“I doubt that. Until today, I have never seen you do anything on your own. But I’m glad to see some of this. It’s a good sign.”
“That’s not fair, Hugh. I’ve been trying to talk to you for days now, and you’ve been avoiding me.”
“Jack, I couldn’t tell you. It was an agreement between Archie and me. Unless Archie chose to tell you, I really couldn’t say anything. A man’s word is his bond, you know?”
“That’s all well and good until the deal involves you marrying the woman I want to be with. You could have anyone you want. Do you have to marry Maybell?”
“We’re at the Boyers. This conversation will have to wait.”
Jack took his gaze off his brother and pulled the reins to stop the horses. They were at the Boyers’ already? He looked past the tree and, sure enough, the house stood in front of them. He angled the reins and steered the horses toward the hitching post. Hugh jumped out of the wagon, looking far too relieved to have put off this discussion…again.
Irritated, Jack set the brake and watched as his brother scampered off. Why was it so hard to get an honest answer from him? Why couldn’t they work out something so that Archie would let Jack marry her instead? If he hadn’t been so distracted over that stupid hat, he would have kept his focus on Maybell. This was the only reason he accepted the invitation from the Boyers, after all. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have gotten a chance to talk to Hugh.
All wasn’t lost, though. They still had the ride back. He would be sure to talk about Maybell then, and maybe he and his brother could finally work out an agreement both would be happy with.
***
Jack had never been so bored in his entire life. The Boyers were nice, but all they wanted to talk about was the baby Winifred’s sister just had. Jack liked babies well enough, but he didn’t particularly care what little outfits Opal had planned for her or how often the girl woke up in the middle of the night or how cute she was. Maybe he would have been more interested if he saw the baby, but since the baby was upstairs asleep, he couldn’t even see her. The only baby he’d seen up close was Pete and Ada’s son, Fred, but even then, Pete and Ada didn’t spend all their time talking about him. They liked to talk about farming, animals, and sign language. Those were topics that far more interested him.
Finally, the meal came to an end, and Alex and his two children showed Jack the property. This turned out to be a much more interesting venture since the children told him all about the geese, chickens, and gardens they had. One even told him about snakes they liked to catch. He enjoyed this part of the evening way more than the dinner.
When they returned, Alex let Jack go into the house first, and to his surprise, Jack saw Hugh kissing Winifred. Of all the things he expected to see, this was probably the last thing on the list. So that was why Hugh didn’t mind spending all that money on Winifred’s hat.
Alex bumped into him from behind. Jack stumbled forward and let the others in. Hugh and Winifred quickly parted, both blushing and looking at everything but the others in the room. The children teased Hugh and Winifred, which only made their faces turn a darker shade of red. It was then and there, Jack decided he loved children. They didn’t mind pointing out things adults were much too polite to do.
Jack knew it was probably mean, but he rather enjoyed his brother’s embarrassment as he mumb
led through his good-byes to the family. It served Hugh right since he’d avoided him all this time when he secretly pined for Winifred. Why didn’t he just come out and tell Jack he had someone else in mind? Why did he make him wonder if he was going to go through with Archie’s plan and marry Maybell? Jack could’ve gotten along a lot better over the past couple weeks if he hadn’t been so worried about the whole thing.
Hugh didn’t make eye contact with Jack as he went out the door. Not that Jack expected him to. But now Jack had something he could leverage. He didn’t have fifteen dollars—which was still an obscene amount to spend on a hat—to pay Archie off, but he could use Winifred to his advantage.
Once again, he waited until he and Hugh were clear out of earshot from the others before he spoke what was on his mind. This time, however, he had the horses go slower. If he wasn’t careful, they’d end up at Archie’s too soon to finish their conversation.
“I take it you don’t mind if I marry Maybell,” he told Hugh whose face was still red.
“I-I don’t know what you’re referring to.”
Jack chuckled. “Sure, you don’t. If you wanted to be with Winifred, why didn’t you tell me? It would have saved me a lot of grief.”
“Remember, I couldn’t tell you about the agreement with Archie, and until tonight, I didn’t really know what Winifred’s feelings were for me.”
“Are you going to tell Archie now that you know?”
“I plan to.”
“When?”
He shifted on the seat and ventured, “Before the square dance next week.”
“I can tell Archie if it’d help,” Jack offered.
“The agreement was between the two of us. I’ll do it.”
It wasn’t exactly the answer Jack wanted to hear. He wanted this to be over with tonight, but the square dance was only a week away, and since that was the case, he could afford to wait. “Alright, but if you don’t, then I will.”
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