Groom by Arrangement

by Rhonda Gibson

  “I’m sorry, Charlotte. Let’s go inside. Would you like a cup of tea?” She tossed her pocketbook onto a nearby table and turned to face her young ward.

  Charlotte laid her small bag down. “No, thanks. Ma wants me to hurry. She says Mr. Dillon from Durango is due today with supplies.”

  “Then let me grab the dress and we’ll get started.” Eliza hurried to her sewing machine and scooped up the finished garment. It was a golden color with little flecks of black throughout. The rich black would bring out the blues in Charlotte’s eyes.

  “Thank you.” Charlotte took the dress and moved behind the new changing curtain that Eliza had put up shortly after returning from Glendale.

  Eliza gathered her pins and pin cushion and pulled out a stool for Charlotte to stand on. “This is to be your dress for your birthday party, isn’t it?”

  Charlotte stepped out and the fabric flowed around her. “Yes, my birthday was a couple of weeks ago but since Ma wasn’t giving you her business then, I had to wait on the dress.”

  If Charlotte realized how rude her statement had sounded, it didn’t show on her face as she stepped up onto the stool. “I’m sorry about that,” Eliza said as she pulled the fabric into place and prepared to pin up the hem. “Please stand a little taller, Charlotte, so I can get this edging just right.”

  Charlotte did as she was asked. “Me, too. I would have liked for Millie to have seen it before she left town.”

  Eliza stopped working. Something in the girl’s voice alerted her that she had a double meaning behind her words or was about to tell her something she felt was important. “I was sad to hear Millie left like that. Why do you suppose she left?”

  Charlotte sighed. “Just as I thought.” She tsked and shook her head.

  “What did you think?” Eliza asked, going back to her pinning. Maybe if she didn’t act interested, Charlotte would stop beating around the bush.

  Charlotte sighed dramatically. “That she didn’t come and tell you that she burned your house down.”

  * * *

  The moment he saw her Jackson knew Eliza had been crying. He laid down his cane fishing pole and walked up the slight incline to meet her. He took the basket she held tightly in her hands. “What’s wrong?”

  “Hi, Ma!” Peter called from the riverbank. He waved at her and then held up a string of fish.

  She smiled and waved back. But Jackson could see her eyes weren’t smiling. Something had upset her and he wanted to know what.

  As if she sensed his growing frustration, Eliza answered him. “Let’s get Peter’s lunch and then I’ll tell you.”

  Jackson nodded and walked with her to the base of the big cottonwood tree. He watched as she prepared their meal on a checkered quilt. She didn’t meet his gaze and wasn’t talking; both actions worried him.

  “Peter, pull the lines out and come have some lunch,” she called to the little boy.

  “Aw, can’t I eat and fish at the same time?” He looked from the river to her and back again.

  Jackson cleared his throat. “Let the boy fish and we can talk. I’ve got something I want to tell you.”

  Eliza nodded and fixed a plate for Peter. He watched as she made a sandwich out of thick ham and cheese. She added dried apple slices to the side. “Do you mind taking it to him?”

  “Be happy to.” He took the plate from her and turned to take it to Peter.

  “Thank you. Oh, and Jackson?” When he turned back to look at her, Eliza added, “Tell him if he eats all those apples, I’ll give him a slice of cherry pie, too.”

  Jackson nodded. Fear and concern nipped at his heels as he hurried to give the boy his plate and then returned to her. She handed him a plate that matched Peter’s, only she’d added potato salad and a pickle to his. “Thank you.”

  She waited until he was seated and then pulled a mason jar from the basket. Eliza handed it to him with a watery grin. He brushed her fingers with his as he took it. She leaned against the tree and closed her eyes.

  “Aren’t you going to eat?” he asked, setting his own plate to the side.

  Eliza looked at him. “No, I’m not hungry. You go ahead.”

  “All right, and while I do that you tell me what has you out of sorts.” He unscrewed the jar and took a sip. Rich black coffee coated his tongue.

  “Do you remember me telling you that Millie Hamilton left town while you were gone?” She caught her bottom lip between her teeth and her eyes filled with tears.

  He wanted to gather her in his arms and comfort her but had the feeling that wasn’t what Eliza wanted at the moment. “Yes.” He dreaded to hear that the girl was dead or worse.

  Eliza filled her lungs with air and then blurted, “She left because of me.”

  His heart constricted in his chest at the sight of the tear that trickled down her cheek. It was all Jackson could do to make himself sit still and listen. “What makes you think that?”

  “Charlotte told me this morning that Millie was the one who set my house on fire. Millie had been practicing smoking and her mother had almost caught her. She’d tossed the cigar away and it caught the house on fire. That girl was always trying to please her friends. She was so guilt ridden about it that she ran away from home. Charlotte says Millie’s ma would have died from embarrassment if anyone knew about it so before she was found out, Millie left. Oh, Jackson! I’m the reason that girl up and married a stranger.”

  He couldn’t take it any longer when she buried her face in her hands and her shoulders shook from her sobs. Jackson pushed up and hurried to her side. He sank down beside her and gathered Eliza onto his lap. “Shhhhh, it’s not your fault. None of it is.”

  “I shouldn’t have left her to take care of the house and shop,” she wailed against his chest.

  Jackson rubbed her back and said a silent prayer that the Lord would give him the right words to help her see she wasn’t to blame for Millie’s actions. She cried until his shirt was wet and then she cried some more. He was beginning to worry that Millie’s leaving had been the last straw for Eliza. So much had happened in such a short time. Would she be able to pull out of this?

  His gaze moved to Peter, who sat by the river playing with the kitten and eating his sandwich. Thankfully the little boy was absorbed in his lunch and the fishing poles. “Eliza?”

  She sat up and wiped her red-rimmed eyes. “I’m sorry, Jackson.” Eliza moved to scoot away from him, but he held her fast.

  “You have nothing to be sorry for, Eliza. Please stay. I want to tell you something, too.” He let her go enough to move from his lap. She sat next to him and looked out to where Peter fished.

  “I’m sorry. I forgot. Please tell me.” She offered another watery smile.

  Jackson took a deep breath and then exhaled. “I’ve decided not to go to Silverton.”

  She pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve and blew her nose. “Why not?”

  Was that hope he saw in her eyes? Jackson didn’t allow himself to think about that. He pressed on. “My mother and her fiancé led me to believe my father was there. For years I’ve been chasing after my pa.”

  Eliza tilted her head sideways. “And she told you he’s not there?”

  Jackson nodded.

  “So where is he and why were you chasing after him?” She frowned. “I’m confused. Maybe you should start at the beginning.” Eliza picked up a dry apple slice and nibbled on the edges. She moved so that she faced him.

  Never had he told anyone his story. Would she turn from him when she learned how much his mother hated him? How his father deserted him? He didn’t know, but he knew it was time to reveal who he was to her.

  “All my life my mother told me that my father left us because when I was born I was too big for her body and the doctor told her she’d never have any more children. She told me he wanted
lots of children and that because of me she couldn’t have any more.” Alarm leaped in her eyes and she covered her mouth.

  It looked as if she were going to speak but he stopped her with a raised hand. “When I was ten, Ma sent me to our local blacksmith, Jasper Morgan. He agreed to apprentice me. She was a bitter woman and never showed me the kind of love a mother should, so when Jasper showed kindness and taught me a trade, I felt blessed. Then one day, Jasper said I’d learned all there was to learn and that it was time I go journey myself out for a while. I told him I’d do that and search for my pa at the same time.”

  He looked up into the trees. The breeze had picked up and the leaves shook above him. Jackson looked to Eliza. It was as if she sensed he needed to continue. “Jasper told me he’d heard my pa was down Texas way. So I went there. No one had heard of him. So after about five years, I headed home. Once again Jasper told me someone had spotted my pa in Nebraska, and so it went. I’d go where he would say and at each place there had been no sign of him. Well, as you can guess the last time I was home, he said my pa was in Silverton, Colorado.”

  Eliza nodded. “So where did your mother say he was this time?”

  “Buried in California. It seems she’s known all along where he was but never told me. And now she’s marrying Jasper.”

  “Oh, Jackson, I am so sorry.” Eliza reached forward and hugged him.

  He allowed her to hold him and returned the hug. “I should have known that they were lying. I should have known Ma was having Jasper send me all over the country so they could be alone.”

  Eliza leaned back on her heels. “How could you have known? Your mother made her choices—you had nothing to do with that.”

  “No, and I have come to realize that she lied to me about a lot of things. My pa didn’t leave because of me. He found out about Jasper and couldn’t stand to be in the same town as them.” He shook his head and wondered if Eliza would realize that she couldn’t control what Millie did, either.

  “So he didn’t leave because she couldn’t have any more children?” She began making him another sandwich.

  “No, I think she made that up, too.” Jackson wasn’t sure why but he had the feeling that she had a second reason for asking.

  Eliza looked at him. Disbelief filled her face. “But why would she do that?”

  “She isn’t quite right in the head, Eliza. I think my pa leaving like that and offering to take care of me was too much for her. Instead of taking the blame for what she’d done, she blamed me.” Jackson realized that by talking it out with Eliza he was beginning to understand his mother a little better.

  “That is so sad.” Eliza shook her head. “You would think she’d be thrilled that your father offered to take care of you.”

  Jackson nodded and took a bite of sandwich. He’d said more in the past half hour than he’d probably ever said at one time with her.

  She chewed and stared down at the riverbank where Peter played. From the look in her eyes, her thoughts were miles away.

  He turned his focus on Peter, too. The little boy had given up on fishing and was now skipping rocks across the water. Someday he’d have to explain that doing that so close to the poles scared the fish away, but for now he’d let the boy play and Eliza think.

  After several long minutes, she sighed. “Thank you, Jackson. Like your mother, I guess Millie made her decisions, too. She didn’t have to leave. She could have come and talked to me. I wouldn’t have said anything to her mother or anyone else.” Eliza looked into his eyes. “I’m sorry about your mother,” she offered.

  “Don’t be. I’m glad she came and I learned the truth. Now I can move on with my life and so can she.” He dusted the crumbs from his hands and stood. “I think I’ll go check on Peter.”

  As he walked away, Jackson couldn’t help but think that Eliza was holding something from him. Something important that could affect their future. But what?

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  A few days later, Peter ran into the kitchen. Eliza smiled. “Ma, are you about ready?” he asked. His cheeks were red and his green eyes bright.

  Eliza walked over to him and felt his face. It was cool to the touch. “Are you feeling all right?”

  The little boy laughed. “Yeah. I’ve just been running bunches.” He grabbed her hand and tugged. “Pa says I can help hold nails and stuff for the men while they work.”

  Satisfied the color was probably from the excitement of going to his first barn raising, Eliza allowed Peter to pull her toward the kitchen. The smells of cinnamon and spices filled the air. She’d been baking since before sunrise. He dropped her hand and took off for the back door.

  “Peter, come here and help me carry the pies out to the wagon.”

  He stopped and looked over his shoulder at her. “But, Ma. I want to go get Mrs. Whiskers. She’ll like going to the barn raising, too.”

  “No, sir, that cat is staying in our barn. You don’t want her to get lost today do you?” She held out a warm peach pie for him to take.

  “No, I guess not.” He took the pie and sighed. Eliza picked up the picnic basket, which held a platter of fried chicken, a bowl of mashed potatoes and two jars of green beans.

  “I’ve never been to a barn raising. Have you?” Peter asked, holding the pie and inhaling its fragrance.

  “Yes, I have. They are a lot of fun, but you will be working, so be mindful of what is going on around you. I don’t want my favorite little boy to get hurt.”

  Peter smiled. “I will. I’m going to be a good helper to Pa.”

  Jackson entered from the hallway. “You two about ready?”

  “I think we have everything,” Eliza answered while Peter nodded.

  “Good. Lead the way, Peter.” Jackson motioned for Eliza to follow Peter ahead of him.

  The boy held the door while balancing the pie. He stared out the front of the house with a quizzical look on his face. “Where’s the wagon?” he asked.

  Eliza wondered the same thing as she joined him on the porch.

  Jackson closed the door behind them. “I figure we can walk.” He took the pie from Peter and grabbed Eliza’s free hand with the other.

  They started walking down the sidewalk toward town with Peter following behind. The sun peeked over the mountain and the crisp morning air filled her lungs as she walked.

  Why were they walking? She looked at him with a frown. His eyes sparkled as if he were up to something. They rounded the corner and she was shocked to see so many wagons along Main Street. Granted, town was normally busy on Saturdays but this Saturday was designated for the Vaughans’ barn raising. Everyone should have been on their way out to the farm, not still in town.

  Jackson stopped and turned to face her. His beautiful blue eyes smiled down at her.

  “What’s going on?” Eliza asked, searching Jackson’s face.

  He grinned at her. “Well, plans changed. I talked to a few of the men and we’ve decided to have a house raising in town today.”

  Peter groaned and kicked at a stone. “I wanted to raise a barn, not an old house.”

  Jackson laughed. “What if I told you it’s our house we’re raising?”

  “I guess that’s all right,” Peter answered grudgingly. He saw his friend George and asked, “Can I go play?”

  Jackson nodded and then turned his attention back to Eliza. She realized he’d planned this as a surprise for her. Would the man never cease to amaze her? Eliza’s breath caught in her throat. “Our house?”

  “Yep, complete with a sewing shop in the front and a home in the back.” Jackson leaned his forehead against hers. “Surprise.” He grinned.

  The scent of leather, coffee and earth filled her nostrils. Is this why he’d been so quiet? How long had he been planning it? She had so many questions but didn’t know where to start
with them. Befuddled, Eliza admitted, “I don’t know what to say.”

  “How about, I would like to see the plans,” he teased.

  With him this close, Eliza longed for a kiss more than she wanted to see the plans. She tilted her head back and brushed his lips with her own. When he didn’t pull away she felt heat enter her cheeks at her bold behavior. “Thank you for thinking of this.” Her voice came out a whisper.

  A smile tugged his lips upward. “You’re welcome.” He gave her a quick hug and then stepped away.

  Eliza took a deep breath. “I’m ready to see the plans now.”

  * * *

  Jackson touched her cheek and led her to the group of men and women who waited for them. He listened as she thanked them all for coming. His lips still tingled where she’d brushed them with hers. Had gratitude been the only reason she’d kissed him or did she really care for him?

  His thoughts had been on their relationship day and night since his mother’s departure. Jackson knew Eliza to be a strong Christian woman and he knew deep in his heart and mind that she’d never betray him like his mother had betrayed his father.

  He’d spent the past week reading his Bible and praying. There were so many things he didn’t understand. How could a mother not love her son? Why would you lie to a child and scar him with your words? He’d asked God these questions and still didn’t have the answers. But what he did have was the assurance that his marriage to Eliza hadn’t been an accident. He hadn’t been an accident.

  During those times in the Word, God’s love had covered the hurt and scars. Jackson felt like a new man. A man who could conquer the world with Eliza by his side.

  “Oh, Jackson, you did a wonderful job on the plans. I love that the shop is separate from the house.” Eliza smiled up at him. Her coffee-colored eyes sparkled.

  “I’m glad. Now go help the women and let us menfolk get to the building,” he teased.

  The men chuckled.

  Jackson squeezed her free hand before releasing it and then handed her the peach pie. He watched her walk away, then turned to the work at hand, even though he would have enjoyed nothing more than spending the day with her.