White River Brides

by Frances Devine

  He mounted Finch and kept his pace with Addy’s. They rode in silence for a few moments, and then Addy sighed.

  Jim groped in his mind for something to say to get her mind off her aunt’s condition.

  “I don’t believe I’ve ever seen so much honeysuckle growing in one area.” Great, talk about flowers.

  “I know.” She threw him a pensive smile. “I’ve always loved the aroma. Even better than lilacs, I believe.”

  Well, if talking about flowers would make her feel better, that’s what he’d do. “Have you ever smelled magnolia blossoms?”

  “No, I don’t believe I have.” She glanced up, her blue eyes wide. “They grow on trees, don’t they?”

  “Yes, and mostly down south. The blossoms have a sweet, lemony smell.” She giggled. “Sweet? Lemony? Lemons don’t smell sweet.”

  He laughed. “Maybe I should have said lemonade.”

  “Or lemon pie,” she said with a teasing grin.

  “Or lemon soda,” he said, picking up the game.

  “Do magnolia trees grow very big?”

  “Some of them are very large. And the leaves are deep velvety, satiny green.”

  “Now there you go again. How can they be satin and velvet at the same time?” Her lips puckered in an amused smile, and he wanted nothing more than to bend over and press his own against their softness.

  “You’re absolutely right.” He wondered if his voice sounded as shaky to her as it did to him. “I need to get my facts straight before attempting to teach a teacher.”

  They arrived in front of the school laughing. Jim dismounted and held his hand out to her. As she placed her soft hand into his rough paw, his throat constricted, and he swallowed past what felt like a lump.

  She looked up into his eyes and smiled. “Thank you for getting my mind off Aunt Kate for a while. It wouldn’t do for me to be in tears all day while I’m trying to teach.”

  “It was my pleasure, Addy.” He lifted her hand and brushed his lips across their softness.

  “Have a pleasant day, my dear.” He stood and watched as she entered the building. Then he mounted his horse and headed toward the hunting lodge construction site.

  Chapter 10

  Would the man ever get to the point? Addy cringed at her disrespect as Reverend Smith’s voice droned on and on. But really. If her nerves hadn’t been on edge from being sandwiched between her mother and Jim, she was sure she’d have nodded off to sleep by now. She fanned her fingers in front of her face. It didn’t do anything for the hot air, but at least it kept her from yawning.

  The sermon was on mutual respect in the family and should have been interesting and helpful, but Addy was hard put not to squirm.

  Wait. What was he saying? No, oh please, God, don’t let him read from Song of Solomon. Not with Jim Castle seated next to me.

  “ ‘Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves’ eyes within thy locks: thy hair is as a flock of goats.…’ ”

  Chapter four. He was reading from chapter four. Addy’s mind tore through the chapter she had thought so beautiful in her private Bible readings. Oh no. Surely he wouldn’t continue. She gasped as he continued through verse four.

  A movement beside her drew her attention. Jim was shaking. Was he laughing at her?

  In spite of her embarrassment, she threw him a look that she hoped would show him what she thought of his inappropriate amusement.

  “Well, I won’t go on because I don’t want to offend any of our ladies, but the Song of Solomon reveals Christ’s love for the church, and as we are told in Ephesians 5:25, ‘Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.’ ”

  Addy let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding and focused on Reverend Smith’s face in an attempt to avoid Jim’s.

  As soon as the final benediction had been said, Addy stood and followed Ma out, conscious of Jim crowding her from behind.

  When she stepped outside the old log building into the sunshine, she inhaled deeply of the fresh air.

  Jim stepped up beside her. She glared at him but nevertheless took his proffered arm.

  Ma turned to Jim with a huge smile. “We’re so pleased you are coming to dinner, Mr. Castle.”

  “Thank you, ma’am. And I’m honored to have been invited, but I assure you, I’ll understand if you want to make it another time. I realize Miss Rayton’s illness is a worry for you.” He returned her smile.

  “Actually Aunt Kate is doing very well. She’s even following doctor’s orders and is feeling much better.” Ma’s voice rang with relief.

  They’d all been surprised when Aunt Kate rallied a couple of days after her visit to the doctor. Addy wondered if the doctor had given them a false diagnosis. She couldn’t help the hope that rose in her at the thought.

  “I’m very happy to hear that. And since that is the case, I will be delighted to accept that invitation.” He hesitated before adding, “I hope you don’t mind if I offer Addy a ride to your home.”

  “I don’t mind at all. You two run right along. We’ll see you there.” She climbed into the carriage beside Pa and Betty, and the next thing Addy knew she was standing beside Jim, quite alone.

  “Addy, I’m so sorry that I offended you when I laughed. I don’t know what came over me.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him. He seemed sincere. Perhaps he really hadn’t intended to laugh, although what he could have possibly thought was funny was beyond her. “Very well, Mr. Castle. I think I can overlook your indiscretion just this once.”

  “I’m deeply grateful, but it’s Jim, remember?”

  She took a deep breath and blew it out with a gush. “Oh, all right, Jim.”

  As they rode down the lane toward the farm, Jim glanced at her. “How about going for a drive this afternoon?”

  “A drive where, in particular?”

  “Oh, I haven’t been to Marble Cave since I’ve been back in town.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “Why do you want to go there? I’ve always hated that dirty cave.”

  “We wouldn’t need to go inside the cave. I’d sort of like to say hello to the Lynch family.”

  “I suppose that would be all right. I haven’t visited with the Lynch sisters in ages.” She threw him a teasing glance. “But don’t think you’ll change my mind about going inside that cave. Because you won’t.”

  “I wouldn’t dream of it. He grinned and clicked to the horse that’d slowed to a walk. Within a few minutes they were pulling alongside the Sullivans’ porch.

  Addy turned toward the door, and Jim placed his hand on her arm. “You’re really going to have to stop jumping down by yourself. How will I ever convince you I’m a gentleman if you won’t even allow me to help you from a carriage?”

  She blushed but remained in her seat until he came around to help her down.

  After leaving Jim in the parlor with Pa, Addy went to the kitchen to help her ma, who was dishing up summer squash and stewed tomatoes into serving bowls. A platter filled with slices of sizzling fried ham stood on the kitchen table.

  Addy washed her hands and donned an apron. “I’ll set the table.”

  “Ma already set the table,” Betty announced. “And I helped. And I took the preserves and pickled peaches in, too.”

  Addy gave her little sister a smile and planted a kiss on her head. “You’re getting to be such a big girl, Bets, and a real help to Ma.”

  Betty nodded, a proud grin on her face. “That’s what Pa said, too.”

  Addy wondered, not for the first time, why Ma and Pa waited so long to have a child. Addy and her sister were nearly twenty-one when Betty was born. So Ma Lexie would have been close to forty. Of course, it couldn’t have been easy, starting their married life with two nine-year-old orphan girls. She wondered if that was why they’d waited. She’d never had the nerve to ask the personal question. “Well then, I’ll start carrying the food into the dining room, Ma.”

  “Oh, than
k you, dear. The bread will be nice and warm in just a moment.”

  A few minutes later, Addy surveyed the laden table. She straightened a napkin or two then went to the parlor to call Pa and Jim to dinner.

  Jim looked up as she entered the room, and as their eyes met, butterflies did a flip-flop in Addy’s stomach. He stood and offered his arm.

  When she placed her hand on his forearm, a tingle began in her fingers, and by the time they arrived at the table, it had reached her heart.

  She felt it, too. He could tell by the look on her face. It wasn’t his imagination. On the other hand, her obvious embarrassment that had begun with the minister’s sermon seemed to be growing worse, and his heart ached for her. He simply must do something to get her mind off it.

  “Jack, it’s come to my attention you were a riverboat captain at one time.” Oops. That might not be the best topic since she was the one who told him about her father’s previous occupation.

  A light came into Jack’s eyes. “Yes, as a matter of fact, I was. I captained the Julia Dawn for a number of years.”

  “That must have been exciting. Ever come across river pirates?” Of course not. The man wasn’t that old. River piracy had pretty much come to an end before the mid-1800s.

  Jack gave him a curious look, and then his glance flitted to Addy. He turned his attention back to Jim, understanding in his eyes. “No, the river pirates’ day had ended before my first cabin boy job. But I knew an old galley cook who could tell some hair-raising stories about when he was a lad on the river.

  Addy’s eyes came alive with excitement. “Do you mean Pap Sanders?”

  “That’s right. Pap was getting up there in years by the time I signed on as a cabin boy. He almost made me wish I’d been born back in the days of the river pirates.” A hearty chuckle exploded from his lips. “Of course, youngsters don’t have a lot of sense.”

  “He didn’t tell Tuck and me about any river pirates. I mean Abby and me.”

  “Because I threatened him within an inch of his life if he so much as mentioned the word in your presence.” Jack smiled at her then looked at Betty, who stared at him, wide eyed. He gave her a wink then turned to Jim. “Which reminds me there is a child at the table. We’d best continue this conversation later.”

  “Of course,” Jim said. “Did you grow up around here, sir?”

  Jack didn’t answer for a moment. Then he nodded. “I lived in this house with my uncle for four years after my parents died. I didn’t have much use for it then. Or anything else for that matter. I took off when I was sixteen. Signed on with the first steamboat I came across that would hire me.”

  His eyes rested on his wife, and they exchanged warm smiles. “It was years before I learned to love this place. I miss the river now and then, but I’ve never regretted selling out. Farming is in my blood now, and I love it as much as or more than I ever loved my life up and down the river.”

  Jim was almost embarrassed to be witnessing the love between Jim and Lexie. What would it be like to come home to a wife and children who loved him? He swallowed past the lump that suddenly clogged his throat. What was the matter with him? It wasn’t like him to be sentimental. But he couldn’t deny the longing that had sprung up inside.

  He cleared his throat and took a bite of squash, relishing the buttery taste. It was good to get some home cooking. And the fried ham slices were about the best he’d ever tasted. Almost as good as the fried chicken at the picnic. He wondered if Addy would ever learn to fry chicken like that.

  Realizing the direction his thoughts were headed, he scrambled around for something to say to get his mind off marriage to Addy. “Mrs. Sullivan, you’re a wonderful cook. I can’t remember ever eating ham that tasted this good.”

  A pleased blush washed over her cheeks. “Why thank you, Mr. Castle. I do believe you said the same thing about my fried chicken at the picnic. I’m very pleased that you like my cooking.”

  After the meal, Addy and her mother began clearing the table.

  “Jim, let’s go sit on the front porch and let our food settle,” Jack suggested. “Sounds good to me.” Jim followed him outside where they sat on cane-bottomed chairs. “Did you make these?”

  Jack grinned. “Wish I could take credit, but I never had the patience to learn the craft. Rafe’s pa makes them. His pa taught him, and I guess his pa’s pa and on up the line. I also have a couple of horsehair chairs he made.”

  Jim shook his head. “I think I saw a couple of those at Rafe’s house.”

  “Yes, it’s going to be a lost art before long. The younger folks want fancy store-bought furniture and don’t appreciate the beauty and the love that goes into these.”

  “Or the time.”

  “Or the time,” Jack echoed.

  The door opened and Addy stepped onto the porch. “Oh, blessed relief,” she said. “It feels nice out here.”

  Jack stood and stretched. “Well, I think I’ll take my Sunday afternoon snooze. I guess you two can keep each other company.”

  “I guess we can, Pa,” Addy said. “Enjoy your rest. We might go over to Marble Cave. Let Ma know so she won’t worry about where I am.” She gazed after him with a fond smile then sat in the chair he’d vacated.

  “We don’t have to go there if you don’t want to, Addy. We could go for a ride by the river. It’s probably cooler there.”

  “No, I don’t mind. I’m sort of looking forward to seeing the Lynch girls.” She giggled. “Although I don’t think they could rightly be called girls, and neither one of them is a Lynch anymore.”

  He grinned but not at her words. What an enchanting little giggle. A ride by the river was sounding more and more pleasant. Too bad he’d mentioned the cave. Ah well, he wondered if the sight of the place would remind her of their first meeting.

  Chapter 11

  Addy leaned back in the buggy seat, enjoying the summer greenery as they passed through the narrow tree-lined road. Addy was surprised to see at least a dozen buggies in the clearing by the cave in addition to a number of saddle horses. She hadn’t realized the Lynches were this busy.

  As they pulled up in front of the Marble Cave office, a sense of familiarity surged through her. She didn’t think she’d come here since Abby married. And she’d only been here a couple of times before that. Once to hear her sister and the old men in her band.

  Did Abby miss playing the violin in public? She said she didn’t, but she sure didn’t turn down any chance to play for the family or church programs. There was no denying Abby had talent. With the proper training, there was no telling how far she could have gone.

  As they got out of the buggy, Mr. Lynch came forward, a huge grin on his face. He grabbed Addy’s hand in both of his huge ones. “Tuck Collins! It’s about time you came to see me.”

  Addy laughed. “Sorry, sir. I’m not Tuck. I’m her twin sister, Addy Sullivan.”

  Consternation crossed his face. “Oh. Miss Sullivan, forgive me. I never could tell you two apart. Except when Tuck was wearing her overalls.” His jovial voice boomed.

  She retrieved her hand, which was growing numb in his tight clasp. “That’s quite all right, Mr. Lynch,” she said. “It’s a common mistake.” Though not as often since Addy had been teaching school in town.

  The two men shook hands, and Mr. Lynch said, “What brings you today, Jim?”

  “I mainly wanted to see the place for old time’s sake.” As organ music bellowed from the cave, Jim darted a glance in that direction. “What’s going on in the cave?”

  “Ah, a wedding today. A young couple from Forsyth thought it would be romantic to get married in the Cathedral Room. After the ceremony, you should take a look at how well my girls decorated the cavern.” He spoke with pride, and Addy knew it was well deserved. The Lynch sisters were known for their talents in music and decorating. “They’re also providing the music. My youngest is playing the organ, and the oldest sang a special song. I wish you could’ve heard her sing.” He kissed his lips to his fingers in
appreciation.

  “I’ve heard her sing many times, Mr. Lynch, at community socials,” Addy said. “It’s something I always look forward to. She has such a lovely voice.”

  “Ah yes, Miss Sullivan, and your sister is very talented, too. Tell her I miss her fiddle very much.”

  “I will.” Addy smiled and glanced at Jim. He held out his arm, and she laid her hand on it, relieved he was ready to go.

  “If you don’t mind, sir, I’d like to take Addy for a stroll.”

  She groaned inwardly. The sooner she got away from the cave, the happier she’d be.

  They strolled through a wooded area then walked up a path until they stood on a bluff overlooking the cave.

  “Isn’t this the site of the old mining town?”

  “Yes, Marmoros.” He shook his head. “I’ve heard it was a fairly wild place before it burned down.”

  Addy nodded. “It didn’t just burn down. The Baldknobbers did it deliberately, or so they say.”

  “Yes, I heard that, too.” He frowned. “I wonder why they did it.”

  She shrugged. “Who knows? From what I’ve heard, they wanted to control everything. They didn’t want the town here for some reason. And it seems they got their way.” Sudden nostalgia gripped her. “Actually that was the night I first met Ma Lexie.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes. You see, Papa Jack had taken Abby and me in a few days before.” She gave him a side grin. “Well, actually, we were camping out in his house when he came home from a trip down the river. He found us and didn’t know what to do with us.”

  Interest washed over his face, and he laughed. “I’d like to hear all of that story.”

  “Maybe someday,” she said with a smile. “But to go on with this story, Papa Jack smelled smoke and finally saw flames coming from Marmoros. He told us to stay in the house and took off on his horse. About an hour later, we were just about to go looking for him when Ma and Uncle Will showed up with Pa all wounded. At first we thought he was dead.”