She swallowed. “Yes, well, I’m happy with what I bought from Mrs. Miller and with the things we brought back from Durango. I have a nice start. After Rebecca and I unloaded the wagon and set up the room, I sold enough fabric and thread to make any gal happy, and tomorrow I know I’ll do much better. Mr. Sayer, over at the sawmill, is bringing over a sign he’s been working on for me. Which reminds me, Jackson, do you think you can burn the words ‘Miz Eliza’s Sewing Goods and More’ into the sign? Or should I just stick with ‘Sewing Goods and More’ as the name of my business?”
He looked up. Was she going to stop and let him answer? Jackson waited.
Six-year-old Peter looked at Jackson, smiled and said, “I think it’s your turn, Pa.”
Jackson wiped his mouth to cover the grin he couldn’t seem to control. “Sure, I’ll put whichever one you want on it.”
The little boy seemed amused at the way he’d answered her. “Pa, you forgot to answer her question.” He turned his attention to Eliza. “I think ‘Sewing Goods and More’ sounds good, Ma.”
She smiled at him. “It does, doesn’t it?”
“Yes, ma’am. You are gonna have the bestest shop in this whole town.” Peter shoveled more potpie into his mouth. Jackson watched her face as she turned her attention back to the orchard just past the blue-and-white curtains. For a few moments he witnessed hurt and anxiety cross her delicate features. Was she thinking about Mrs. Walker? She turned and caught him staring.
“Dinner tastes great. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Eliza stood, picked up her barely touched plate and carried it to the scrap bowl.
Peter pushed his chair back, as well, and took his plate to her. When she took it, he asked, “Can I go look at the picture book now?”
She smiled down at him. “You may.”
Peter scampered off down the hall.
Jackson finished his meal and then carried his plate to the scrap bowl. Eliza filled a washbasin full of hot water and soap. He scraped out the crumbs and handed the plate to her.
Their eyes met as she took it. With a sigh she said, “Peter really is a good boy but I’m not sure he should be staying with me.” Her voice cracked and tears filled her eyes.
He should walk away, Jackson told himself even as he asked, “Why not?”
* * *
A sob tore from her dry throat. Eliza tried to control the tears that she knew were coming. She wasn’t Jackson’s problem. He didn’t need to know that in just the past couple of days she’d been christened the town harlot. Eliza wiped her hands off on a towel. Who was she kidding? He probably already knew.
“Some of the ladies believe that, well, that...” She couldn’t bring herself to say that they thought she and he had spent the night together. How did you say such a thing to a man? “Never mind, it’s not important.” She turned away from him, wiped the moisture from her eyes and pulled her shoulders back.
His sigh tickled the back of her neck, sending goose bumps down her arms. She moved farther away from him. He wasn’t the man she needed to talk to about Peter—Seth Billings was. Eliza dunked the dirty dishes into the hot water and began to scrub.
“I’m sorry, Eliza. I’ve heard some of what the ladies are saying.” She heard him pull out a chair from the table and sit.
It was her time to sigh. “I’m not blaming you, Jackson. People gossip.” She stacked the dishes on a dish towel.
“So what are we going to do about it?”
Eliza frowned down at the dirty water. “About what?”
“The gossip.”
She swished her hand through the water once more, making sure she hadn’t missed any silverware, and then picked up the basin. “Nothing we can do. The gossips will gossip about us no matter what we do.” Eliza walked to the back door and took the wooden steps down to the garden.
His boots clomped as he followed her.
She tossed the water onto the garden and turned back around.
Jackson leaned against the door. His legs were crossed at the ankle and his arms crossed over his broad chest. His sandy-brown hair fluttered in the evening breeze, inviting her fingers to straighten it. He looked relaxed as he offered, “We could get married.”
Chapter Nine
Jackson felt anything but relaxed. Sweat beaded on the back of his neck and his hands shook. He’d never asked a woman to marry him before. Come to think of it, he really hadn’t asked her. He’d simply made a statement.
From the shocked look on her face, Eliza hadn’t expected the suggestion, either. She stared at him as if he’d recommended she go out and kill someone. After several moments of silence, he wondered if Eliza Kelly had been turned speechless.
“Get married? You and me? Why?” she sputtered. “What would motivate you to ask me to marry you? Well, you really didn’t ask, you suggested. But still, why?”
His lips twitched. So much for speechless. “Yes, get married, and yes, you and me.”
Again she asked, “Why?”
Jackson motioned for her to come to him. He sat down on the porch and patted the wood beside him. When she sat, he turned to her. “Look, I know what the ladies are saying. I’ve put your reputation in danger and I want to make things right.”
She offered him a smile. “Look, Jackson, I’m sure your heart is in the right place, but I can’t be a good wife to you.” Eliza held up her hand, thinking he might interrupt. “I’m not in love with you. Charlie still holds that part of my heart, he probably always will. I’m sorry if that hurts you, but I have to be honest. A marriage between us would be unfair to you.”
Jackson shook his head. “I’m not saying we have to stay married, Eliza. If we marry, it will stop the wagging tongues and help you establish your business. In a year, I plan to go to Silverton and open a new smithy. We can get an annulment then.” He focused on the trees. “Besides, I’m not in love with you, either.”
She stared at him as if he’d sprouted wings. Her mouth opened and closed. For the second time in the past few minutes, he’d rendered Eliza Kelly speechless. Jackson felt as if ants were crawling up his spine and into his hairline. “Just think about it, Eliza.” He stood. “Thanks for dinner.” And then he turned and walked away.
Jackson exhaled. Had he messed up by offering Eliza marriage? What if she avoided him like the plague now? What if she accepted? A bead of sweat rolled down his spine.
* * *
What was she going to do now? The man had suggested marriage like others suggested having pie for dessert. Eliza heard Peter in the kitchen and stood to join him.
“Are you going to marry Pa?” he asked as soon as she entered the room.
Eliza frowned. “It’s not polite to eavesdrop, Peter.” She avoided the question by picking up the dishcloth and wiping down the table.
The little boy sighed. “I’m sorry.”
She realized she’d snapped at him. “I’m sorry, too.” Eliza sat down in one of the wooden chairs and pulled him to her for a quick cuddle. What was she going to do? If the ladies continued to accuse her falsely, Seth might make her give up Peter.
The strong smell of sweaty little boy filled her nose. She tickled him. “You need a bath.”
“I’d rather have a cookie.” He chuckled, squirming out of her arms.
She laughed. “You’ll have both.”
He groaned at the prospect of another bath. “My pa never made me take this many baths.”
“Well, I’d hate to think what he smelled like.” She winked to take the sting out of her words and handed him a fresh sugar cookie.
Peter giggled. “Yeah, my new pa smells much better.”
Eliza had to agree with him on that score. Jackson smelled like leather, iron and the outdoors all rolled up into one manly scent. What would it be like to take Jackson up on his of
fer of marriage?
That question kept her awake all night. As soon as she got Peter off to the smithy the next morning, Eliza hurried to Rebecca’s for tea. She didn’t take time to look in the mirror before leaving for fear of seeing dark circles under her eyes.
Seth met her at the door. “Good morning, Eliza. I was just on my way to see you.” He held it open for her to enter.
“Good morning, Marshal. When did you get home?” Eliza hurried past him into the sitting room.
Seth closed the door and followed her. “Last night. Rebecca tells me you have a little boy living with you?”
Eliza swallowed. He didn’t waste any time getting to the point. She wondered if the local gossips had already made their way to inform him of her suspected unladylike conduct. “I do, and he’s the sweetest little thing.”
“He’s with Jackson Hart now?”
His tone gave her pause. “Yes. Is something wrong, Seth?”
“Yes and no.” Seth leaned up against the door frame and studied her. “Rebecca has filled me in on all the events following my absence. She warned me to expect the welcoming committee as soon as they find out I’m home. We suspect they are going to request that Peter be moved to a more respectable home.”
“I see.”
Rebecca breezed into the room. She had baby Sadie on her hip. One look at them and she scowled at Seth. “Real subtle, were you?”
He stood up taller, and she thrust the baby into his arms and then hurried to Eliza. “Don’t fret, Eliza. I told him everything, including what Mrs. Walker and her bunch are saying, so that he can help you keep Peter and find out who burned down your shop.”
Eliza felt weariness settle on her shoulders. Seth didn’t give the impression that he wanted to help. He acted as though he’d rather be anywhere but in the same room with her. Did he believe the ugly lies?
“Rebecca’s probably right, Seth. The ladies heard Miles Thatcher and the way he accused us of spending the night together, and they haven’t let it go. I don’t think that is cause to take Peter away from me, though. I’ve done nothing wrong.” Eliza looked to Rebecca. “As for my shop burning down, we have no proof that it was done on purpose. And thanks to Rebecca’s idea of me opening up a sewing shop, I can rebuild in no time. The sheriff arrived home yesterday and came by to talk to me about it. He thinks that a group of teenage boys were sneaking a smoke, but since he has no proof, he’s dropping it. So I don’t think you need to concern yourself with that.” She took a deep breath.
“What does Jackson have to say about this?” Seth asked as he jiggled the fussing baby.
Should she tell him? Eliza looked to her friend. She’d meant to tell Rebecca, and now Eliza knew that Rebecca would tell him later, anyway. “He suggested we get married.”
Seth stopped jiggling the infant and Rebecca gasped. They both stared at her with round eyes.
“What did you say?” Rebecca finally asked.
Eliza sighed. “Nothing. I didn’t know what to say.”
“Let’s sit down.” Rebecca led her to the couch.
She sank onto the soft cushion. Seth took the rocking chair and Rebecca sat down beside her. Little Janie climbed down and grabbed the table and began walking circles around it.
Seth cleared his throat. “It’s not a bad idea.”
“Seth Billings! How can you say that? We don’t know the man well enough to suggest Eliza marry up with him.”
Janie started at the tone in her mother’s voice. She plopped down on her diaper and started to cry.
Eliza wanted to join her. Embarrassed and tired from the stress of the past few days she fought to hold back her own tears.
Rebecca scooped up the crying baby and soothed her with soft words. She patted the little girl’s back and glared at her husband.
Seth waited until Janie calmed down and then said softly, “It’s not so far-fetched. Weren’t you and Hannah going to marry her off to that Miles Thatcher? What did you know about him? Other than what he told you in a few letters? Letters that he could have lied about himself in.”
It was true. Rebecca had schemed with Hannah to marry her off to a man she’d never met.
“That was different,” Rebecca said.
“No, he’s right, Rebecca. You and Hannah were going to marry me off to a stranger. We haven’t talked about it, but you really should have told me before I went to Durango with her.”
Eliza heard the hurt in her own voice. “If I had known about him, I might not be in this situation now.”
Rebecca turned a shocked face to her. “I’m sorry, Eliza. I didn’t realize we would hurt you. The truth of the matter is we didn’t want you to be lonely when Hannah left. I truly am sorry.”
Seeing the sincerity on her friend’s face, Eliza felt like a heel. She patted Rebecca on the shoulder. “It’s all right. I’m not angry at you or Hannah anymore. I just wish we could have avoided this whole situation.”
Seth stood slowly. “Sadie’s asleep. I’m going to go lay her down.” He hurried from the room.
Eliza watched him leave. When he was out of earshot she said, “I could leave town. Without my store I have nothing holding me here. Jackson says he’s going to Silverton in a year, so as soon as he leaves, the ladies will forget all about us and move on to other things.”
“Don’t give them the satisfaction, Eliza. I thought after last year they’d changed.” She sighed. “You can’t leave. I’d miss you something terrible. We’re like sisters. And what about Peter?”
Eliza didn’t want to leave Cottonwood Springs but didn’t know what to do about the gossip. “I’m taking him with me if I go.” She didn’t want Peter to get hurt and moved into another home. In the short time he’d been with her, the little boy had captured her heart.
“No, you can’t leave,” Rebecca protested as she rocked side to side holding Janie.
“Then what do you suggest I do?”
When Rebecca stared at her blankly, Eliza realized she would have to choose her own path. Would she marry Jackson? He was a good man. And, if she did, could he raise Peter as an only child? Or would Jackson leave her?
Chapter Ten
Jackson wasn’t surprised when Seth came into the smithy. Several of the men had been standing around chatting, and news had it that the marshal had arrived the night before. “Afternoon, Marshal.”
“Afternoon, Jackson. I see you’ve settled in here.” Seth’s gaze moved to Peter. The little boy was sitting at a barrel, practicing his letters.
“Yep, it’s a nice town.”
Seth’s gaze came back to rest on him. “Is it?”
Jackson looked at the small group of men chatting by the door. “For the most part.”
The marshal nodded. “True, but we do have a small group of ladies that like to keep things stirred up.”
“Every town does.” Jackson returned to shaping the trammel he’d been working on when Seth arrived.
Seth pulled up a crate and sat down not too far from Jackson. “Way I hear it, our little group has been giving you trouble.”
Jackson hit the thick metal with his hammer. “Not me.”
“No?”
He didn’t like the marshal prying into his personal life, but being as Seth was the law, there wasn’t much he could do about it. “Nope.”
Seth picked up a pair of tongs and examined them. “How’s business?”
“Picking up every day.” Jackson thrust the metal into a tub of cold water. He turned to face Seth. “Something on your mind, Marshal?”
Seth watched as the men began to depart. “Eliza tells me you proposed to her last night, but that you are going to leave in a year for Silverton.”
Jackson laid the hammer down and nodded. “I did and I am.”
“Why?” Seth looked up at him. His
brown eyes studied Jackson as he waited for the answer.
Jackson glanced at Peter. Could the boy hear their conversation? His face was scrunched up as he copied his letters. Jackson turned his attention back to Seth. “I don’t reckon I have to answer you since it really isn’t any of your business.”
Seth stood. “Well, you are partially right. You see, it isn’t any of my business, but Eliza Kelly is.”
Jackson felt the old feeling of being measured and didn’t like it. He pulled his shoulders back and in a quiet voice that put fear in most men’s hearts asked, “How so?”
Seth ignored the stance and tone. His own voice took on an edge as he answered. “I told you in Durango. I decided the day I moved here to keep an eye on her. The Good Book says I am to protect and provide for the widows in my town, and she’s my wife’s best friend. So I want to know what your intentions are and why you have them.”
So that was it. Seth wasn’t judging him. He was simply questioning his motives because he cared about his friend. “I suggested we get married. If she says yes, I’m going to marry her. As to why, well, I’ll be honest with you. I feel responsible for the hearsay that is going on about her. Her reputation is all she has right now, and I don’t want it ruined by the local gossips.” Jackson picked up the metal and hammer once more. He didn’t feel the need to remind the marshal that he’d promised to protect her.
Seth laid a hand on his shoulder. “I thought it was a good idea at first, too, but my sweet wife gave me reasons to pause and think about it. Have you thought this through? What about the boy? What happens to him when you move to Silverton? Are you going to give him to Eliza and be the second pa to walk out on him in his young life? And what if Eliza falls in love with you during this year of marriage? Are you going to break her heart and leave? I don’t mind telling you, Jackson, I don’t like the idea of any of that coming to pass. Do me a favor and think about that before you marry Eliza.” He walked out the smithy, leaving Jackson feeling confused and foolish.
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