White River Brides

by Frances Devine

  The smile on his face seemed real enough. Although there was a possibility he was manipulating her, she needed to give him a chance. The Bible did say something about forgiving others when they asked you to.

  “Let’s celebrate. Come on back to the office. Mrs. Carey brought me a delicious apple cobbler yesterday, and it hasn’t been touched yet.” He flashed her a grin. “We’ll leave the door open of course.”

  “I’m sorry, I need to do my mother’s shopping and go practice with the group.” A thrill of victory ran through her for not changing her plans. There. Let him chew on that.

  Disappointment washed over his face. “Very well. Another time then. May I drive you to church on Sunday?”

  “Yes, I suppose that would be all right.” She nodded then turned to the dry goods on the shelf.

  “Good day, then.” She listened as his footsteps crossed the floor and the door opened and closed.

  Anxious to get to the feed store before the group started practicing without her, she hurried through her shopping then paid Mr. Hawkins for the stamp. A little twinge of excitement ran through her as she thought of the Christmas ball which was only a few weeks away. They’d be playing again for this one, but she meant to stop in plenty of time to have some fun herself. After all, the oldsters had been playing music for a long time before she came into the group, and she had a right to have some fun, too.

  As she walked out the door, Rafe rode up. He grinned and waved as he dismounted.

  “Tuck, what are you up to?”

  The sound of his voice rippled through her entire body. She felt laughter well up inside.

  “Rafe! Getting ready to go practice with the gang. It’s good to see you. Why haven’t you been by?”

  “Well, I figure you’re busy now that the doc is courting you.” He grinned, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

  “I’m never too busy for old friends. I thought maybe Carrie Sue had you all roped and tied.”

  He chuckled. “Nope. Don’t know why you’d think that.”

  “Huh! The way she was hanging all over you at the festival could be one reason.” She peered at him closely to see his reaction. Maybe he liked having Carrie crazy over him. “It’s obvious she’s after you.”

  His eyes glinted, and he laughed again. “Tell you what. If she ever catches me, you’ll be the first to know.” He gave her a wave and went inside.

  She loaded her things into the wagon and covered them with a tarp in case it rained. Then she headed down to the feed store. Her thoughts turned to Sam, but they were different than they were a few weeks ago. Oh, he was still handsome and he could be charming, but she no longer felt weak-kneed when she saw him.

  When had her feelings begun to change? It was before the incident by the river. She sighed. Of course feelings would change when the new wore off a relationship. She still loved Sam. It just felt different.

  She’d always thought love would be a happy feeling, but being with Rafe just now was the happiest she’d been in a long time. Why couldn’t Sam make her feel like that?

  “Hello there, Rafe. Forget something when you were in here yesterday?” Mr. Hawkins came out from behind the post office cubicle and held out his hand.

  Rafe shook his hand, silently gloating over Tuck’s first sign of jealousy. If he wasn’t imagining it. “No, sir. Don’t need a thing. Is the doc in?”

  “You’re in luck. He just came in from a house call a few minutes ago, and as far as I know he doesn’t have a patient in there with him.” Mr. Hawkins motioned toward the doctor’s office. “You ailing with something?”

  “Just a sore neck and shoulder.” He felt a slight pang at the lie. Actually, he’d had a sore neck the week before, but it was fine now except for a twinge now and then. It gave him a good excuse to go see Fields though. He went back to the doctor’s office and knocked, then opened the door.

  Fields appeared cautious when he saw Rafe step through the door.

  Suspicion wrapped itself around Rafe’s mind. Why would the doc be concerned about him? Except that he knew Rafe was Tuck’s friend as well as a friend of the family.

  “What can I do for you, Collins?” Fields stepped forward, a questioning look on his face.

  “My neck and shoulder have been giving me fits. May have strained something hauling wood to Forsyth.” That much was true. He didn’t have to tell the man it was pretty much healed up. “Thought maybe I should have you check it out.”

  The doctor motioned to a wooden stool. “Why don’t you sit over there and take your shirt off? I’ll take a look.”

  Rafe obliged and sat while the doctor probed his shoulder and examined his neck. He refused to flinch, even when Fields’s fingers dug into a tender spot.

  “Hmmm. I can’t find anything out of place. You’re probably right about the strain.” He stood back and looked at Rafe. His mouth twisted and his eyes bore into Rafe’s.

  Was that a knowing look on his face? Probably just Rafe’s imagination. Why would Fields suspect anything? Rafe was another patient, and a paying one at that. That was all.

  While Rafe put his shirt on, the doctor walked over to a cabinet and took out a bottle of liniment. “Here, rub this on the sore spots a couple of times a day. It’ll help a little. Mainly you just have to wait it out though. It’ll get better.”

  Rafe nodded. “Thanks, what do I owe you?”

  He handed the amount Sam mentioned over to the doctor, then took the bottle and headed out the door. What a waste. He hadn’t learned a thing. Although he had no idea what he’d expected to find out from a doctor’s visit.

  He went outside and glanced at the liniment in his hand. This was silly. They had jugs of the stuff at home. He might as well leave it here for someone else. He turned and walked back into the office.

  Fields, his back to the door, stood by his phone and laughed softly into the mouthpiece. “I love you, my dear. You do know that, don’t you?”

  Rafe inhaled sharply then held his breath. Now who was the doctor professing his love to? Maybe this visit wouldn’t be such a waste after all.

  Fields spoke into the phone again. “Yes, of course. I’ll see you soon. Very soon. Yes. Good-bye, my sweet.”

  Rafe turned and slipped out the door before the doctor turned around.

  Was the conversation what it sounded like? If so, he felt like giving the guy a good trouncing for the hurt Tuck was going to feel when she found out.

  He waved at Hawkins and left the store again, a thunder roaring in his brain. How did he think she was going to find out? He sure couldn’t tell her. She’d probably think he was making it up, although there was no reason why she’d think that when she didn’t know how he felt about her.

  Champ whinnied when he stepped over to untie him. He patted the horse and slipped him a lump of sugar before mounting.

  Bothered by the conversation, he rode toward home. How could he handle this? The doctor could be totally innocent. Rafe’d only heard a couple of sentences. Maybe it was the man’s mother he was talking to. But his voice when he said I love you wasn’t the tone a man used when he spoke to his ma or his sister. It had been downright seductive. No, he was talking to a sweetheart.

  Which brought Rafe back to his problem. How could he handle this in a way where Tuck wouldn’t get hurt? Even if his suspicions were true, it wasn’t his place to reveal it to her. He should probably talk to Addy. But he hated to give her more to worry about.

  He turned toward the Sullivan farm, urging Champ forward. He needed to speak to Jack about this. Tuck’s pa would know how to handle it. He didn’t know how long Tuck would be in town. From the look of the sky, probably not too long. He needed to hurry and talk to Jack and leave before she got home.

  Reining his horse in, he jumped off and tied him to the front porch rail. He knocked on the door and after a minute heard footsteps.

  Lexie opened the door and smiled. “Come in, Rafe. How nice to see you.”

  Lexie was the happiest person he knew. And she alw
ays acted as if she hadn’t seen him in weeks, even if it had been the day before.

  “Thanks, it sure smells good in here.” Grinning, he sniffed in appreciation of the sweet, fruity aroma.

  The corners of her eyes crinkled with pleasure. “That’s my apple cobbler you smell. And it’ll be cool enough to dish up in a few minutes.”

  Rafe shook his head. “Wish I could, but I need to talk to Jack then hurry home. It looks like it might storm, and I’ll have to help Pa get the animals into the barn.”

  “You’ll find him in the barn. I have no idea what he’s doing, but I’m sure he’ll be happy to see you.” She patted him on the arm. “I’ll save you some cobbler to take home for you and your folks. There’s plenty.”

  “Thank you, ma’am. I’m obliged. I’ll just go on out there now.” With one more breath of longing for the cobbler, he crossed the yard to the barn.

  The sound of “Amazing Grace” greeted him as he walked into the barn. Jack sat on a bale of hay, singing at the top of his lungs, while he polished an old saddle.

  “Hey, Jack.”

  Jack Sullivan glanced up and grinned when he saw Rafe. “Come on in, boy. I’m glad for some male company. All those women talk about is dresses and geegaws for the Christmas dance. I had to escape to the barn for my sanity.” Rafe laughed. “Yes, I can imagine. I think all the ladies in the county have gone a little bit Christmas crazy. And it’s still only the middle of November.”

  “What brings you out on a day like this? It’s likely going to storm within the hour.” He frowned. “I hope Tuck makes it back before it hits.”

  “I saw her in town about an hour ago. She was going over to practice but didn’t plan to stay long.” Rafe looked at the ground then back at Jack. “I really need to talk to you about something. And it just might concern Tuck, sir.”

  Chapter 14

  A lilting feeling tickled Tuck’s stomach, and laughter bubbled up inside her as she noticed Champ tied up by the barn. Rafe was here. Apparently he’d come to see Papa Jack, but maybe he’d stay for supper and they could have a long talk afterward.

  She stopped in front of the house to make it quicker and easier to unload the wagon. Jumping down, she headed across the yard. Rafe would help her carry things inside.

  The barn door was open a crack, and Rafe’s voice drifted out. “At first I sort of gave him the benefit of the doubt, thinking maybe he was talking to his mother or sister. But believe me, that tone of voice wasn’t the way a man speaks to his ma. I wanted to drag him outside and teach him a lesson he wouldn’t forget. The idea of him toying with Tuck like that while all the time he’s got a sweetheart somewhere…”

  Tuck’s breath caught in her chest, and pain shot though her. Rafe could only be talking about Sam. But…what did he mean? Sam loved another woman? Surely it was a misunderstanding.

  “Tell me again what Fields said. Maybe it wasn’t as bad as you think.” Pa’s voice of reason fell like a healing balm on her ears.

  She listened as Rafe, his voice tight with anger, repeated word for word what he said he’d heard.

  “Now calm down, Rafe.” Pa still spoke with quiet reason, but an underlying hint of suppressed anger revealed his real feelings. “I know you’re angry, the way you care about Tuck. I am, too. But you need to be sure before you say anything to her.”

  “Say something to Tuck? You should know I can’t be the one to tell her. Not with me being in love with her. It would just seem like jealousy on my part.” Rafe’s voice shook with emotion. “Anyway, she’s changed so much, I hardly know her anymore.”

  Shock hit her. Fire centered in her forehead and spread outward and down her entire body. Shame and delight battled within her. How could she have fallen for Sam’s lies when all the time he was courting someone else? But Rafe…Rafe loved her? Confusion swirled in her mind, twisting and intertwining with the other emotions.

  She spun around and ran to the house. She couldn’t let Rafe see her like this. He would know she’d overheard him. She stopped at the porch, her breath coming in gulps. She had to calm down before she went inside.

  She began unloading the wagon and placing things on the porch. That would calm her down. Besides, it would seem odd if she left a wagon with supplies standing in front of the porch. Ma must not suspect anything was amiss. With a smile on her face, she carried some of the household supplies inside.

  Ma and Addy were in the kitchen preparing the evening meal. “Abigail, I was beginning to worry that you’d be caught in a thunderstorm.” Ma glanced at her and smiled.

  Addy hurried over. “Here, let me take one of those baskets. Your arms are piled high.”

  “Just set them on the pantry floor, girls. We’ll put them away after supper,” Ma directed.

  Just as Tuck was about to return to the wagon to get the remaining basket and the sack of flour, Pa came in the front door, carrying everything.

  “Why didn’t you call me to help, Tuck? I was right in the barn.”

  “Oh, I saw Rafe’s horse and figured you two were talking. I didn’t want to disturb you.” A poor excuse, as her pa’s puzzled expression confirmed. Ordinarily she’d have simply barged into the barn and dragged Rafe out to help.

  “Abigail, get that covered bowl off the dough table and take it out to Rafe. I told him I’d send apple cobbler home with him.”

  Panic rose in Tuck. She groped around in her mind for an excuse.

  Pa shook his head. “He’s already gone. Wanted to beat the storm home. I guess he forgot about the cobbler.”

  Relief washed over Tuck. She’d have to see him sooner or later, but there was no way she could face Rafe now. How could she? Knowing he loved her and that he didn’t know she knew. It was an impossible situation.

  She frowned. Why did he have to go and ruin their friendship by falling in love with her? And why’d he have to spy on Sam? He’d probably got it all wrong anyway.

  But something stirred deep inside her. A warmth unlike any she’d felt before.

  After they’d eaten and the dishes were washed, Ma and Pa settled in the parlor. Ma with her sewing and Pa with a rifle that needed to be cleaned. Addy and Abby put the supplies away in the pantry.

  “You’re awfully quiet, Abby. Is something wrong?” Addy threw her a glance filled with curiosity.

  Tuck leaned against the wall. She and Addy had always stuck together. As far as she knew, they’d never kept secrets from each other until recently, and that was Tuck’s doing. She knew that Addy loved her, and although she loved her sister, too, Tuck also knew that her twin had been kinder to her through the years than she’d been in return.

  Suddenly, she missed the talks they used to have, the laughter they’d shared. When had they lost it? Tuck sighed. She knew she was the one to blame. She’d pulled back from Addy out of jealousy. Addy had a sweet disposition that drew people to her. Tuck, on the other hand, knew she’d always been selfish. “I’d like to talk to you about something later.”

  “All right,” Addy said, a question in her voice. “Let’s finish up here and go to our room.”

  They finished putting the supplies away then went to the parlor to say good night to their parents.

  Pa and Ma looked up when they came in. They both had worried expressions on their faces.

  “Tuck, your mother and I would like to talk to you about something in private,” Pa said.

  Tuck took a deep breath. Here it was. It had to be about Rafe’s accusation against Sam.

  “All right, Pa.” Tuck sat on the stool in front of her mother’s rocking chair and waited while Addy said good night and went to their room.

  Papa Jack cleared his throat. “Abigail, your mother and I know you are a young woman and old enough to make your own decisions, but we think your relationship with Dr. Fields is moving too fast.”

  Tuck licked her lips. How could she handle this? She couldn’t let Pa know she’d overheard the part about Sam without also revealing she’d overheard Rafe’s declaration of love. She sw
allowed. “What do you mean, Pa?”

  Pa took a deep breath and looked at Ma. She placed her hand on his arm and nodded.

  Tuck sat, frozen, and listened to the story once more. How should she respond? She hadn’t yet had the time to think it over. She’d hoped her talk with Addy would help. She cleared her throat. “I’m not sure I believe it to be true.”

  “Abigail,” Ma said, “surely you don’t think Rafe would make up a story like that.”

  “No, of course not,” Tuck said, frowning. “But he may have misunderstood. I think Sam at least deserves a chance to explain. Don’t you?”

  “Yes, certainly,” Pa said quickly. “But how will you know if he’s being honest?”

  “I don’t know, Pa. I guess I’ll have to trust God to show me, won’t I?”

  The misery on her parents’ faces stabbed her like a knife. Sharp and cruel. And suddenly she knew. They felt her pain.

  “I promise I won’t marry Sam Fields unless I can do so with your blessing and your assurance that all is well.” They could count on that. Tuck wasn’t sure if the pain she felt was grief or anger, but she knew she had to find out the truth about Sam.

  When Tuck walked into her bedroom, she found Addy seated in front of the stove in one of their twin rockers. She glanced up from the hem she was mending and smiled. “You still rip more hems than anyone I know, in spite of your new ladylike ways.”

  “You shouldn’t be doing my mending for me, Addy. It’s time I started doing things for myself.”

  “I needed something to do while I waited for you.” She bit the thread and tied a knot, then handed the dress to Tuck with a smile.

  Tuck tossed it on the bed and sat in the rocker beside her sister. She held her hands toward the stove, enjoying the warmth that enveloped them. “Sis, I don’t know if I’ll ever really be ladylike. I pretend really well when it suits me then go right back to my old ways.”

  “You’re doing better,” Addy said. “Don’t put yourself down.”

  “But to tell the truth, I miss being me. Oh, I know I need to work on some things, but in doing so I’m not sure who I am anymore.”