Colorado Courtship

by Cheryl St. John

  Jed knew which ice pond she referred to. Near what used to be the old slaughterhouse where they’d dammed up a creek for an irrigation pond and left it full through winter just for that purpose.

  “We haven’t done that in a while.” Emmett took his wife’s hand and smiled at her lovingly and as if they shared a secret.

  Sunny leaned toward Jed and whispered, “They met at a Valentine’s skating party and married on one, too.”

  “Ah, I see.”

  “So what do you say, Sunny? Jed?” Minnie tore her gaze away from Emmett.

  “Sounds good to me.” Jed smiled.

  Sunny clutched her tiny hands together. “Me, too. I haven’t been skating in years. That sounds like so much fun.”

  It sure did. And Jed couldn’t help but think about Emmett and Minnie falling in love over skating. He pictured himself and Sunny skating under the full moon, holding hands, having eyes only for each other. Sneaking away behind a rock to steal a kiss or two. And ending with Jed getting down on one knee, asking Sunny to marry him. And her saying...

  “Jed, do you think that will work?”

  He looked over at Minnie. He had no clue what she’d asked him, but he sure hoped it would work. His proposal, that was. If he ever got to offer one. A man could always dream anyway. And dream he would. Even Emmett couldn’t deny him that.

  Chapter Eight

  Sunny didn’t think Valentine’s Day would ever arrive. But it finally had. She pulled back the vegetable-dyed quilt dressing her window and peeked out.

  Lanterns hung on the fronts of the two sleds. Jed and Uncle Emmett were busy loading them, getting ready for the skating party.

  Earlier, while the women had baked and cooked, the men had gone down to the pond and cleared the snow off the ice and dropped off a large load of firewood. Wood the ranch hands were now building a large fire with. A fire Sunny could hardly wait to enjoy. There was something about sitting around an outdoor fire on a cold winter evening, sharing a meal with friends and skating under the moonlight. Sunny shook with excitement just thinking about it.

  She let the curtain fall back into place, scurried to her bed and sat down on the heavy woolen-pieced quilt that matched the window dressings.

  After adding several layers of undergarments to keep warm, she slid her deep blue broadcloth skirt over her head and finished dressing. Excitement danced inside her at the prospect of the whole evening. It had been a long time since she’d last seen her aunt and uncle’s neighbors. She could hardly wait to see the other ranchers again or to spend more time with Jed outside of working and sitting around with her aunt and uncle in the evenings.

  She hurried into the kitchen and helped gather the rest of the food and eating utensils to load them into the sleds. She put on her Sunday-best gray woolen coat, gloves, boots and matching woolen bonnet. No cowboy hat this evening for her.

  One step out the door and the cold sucked the air from her lungs, but she didn’t care. A warm fire by the pond would soon knock the chill.

  Jed and Uncle Emmett had the large black cooking kettle full of thick potato, cheese and onion soup already situated securely in backseat of the sleigh.

  “Well, that’s the last of it.” Aunt Minnie handed the basket filled with a variety of cookies up to Uncle Emmett, who was standing in the sled.

  “You ready to go, then, sugar?” Uncle Emmett hopped down.

  “After I stoke the woodstove real good,” Minnie said.

  “I’ll do that.” Jed headed toward the house.

  Sunny followed. “I’ll help.”

  “Thanks. But I don’t need any help.”

  “Now you sound like me.” Sunny giggled.

  “I do, don’t I?” He grinned.

  “I can hardly wait to get to the pond, so let me help so we can get it done faster.”

  Jed agreed. “By the way, you look very nice this evening.”

  “Thank you.” His compliment warmed her more deeply than the penetrating heat from the cookstove.

  Sunny took the cast-iron handle, raised the lid on the stove and arranged the pieces of wood inside it as Jed handed them to her. “You been skating before?” she asked.

  “Uh-huh. Lots of times. You?”

  “Yup. My whole life.”

  “I bet I can skate better than you.”

  Sunny expected something like that from Cody, not Jed, so as soon as she heard that, her attention darted toward him. A smirk covered his face. “Oh, you.” She tapped him on his arm.

  “You two coming?” Uncle Emmett stepped inside the kitchen.

  Jed handed her the last piece of wood and moved away from her quicker than the time it took to blink. “That was the last piece.” He brushed his hands off and headed outside.

  “Shall we, Sunshine?” Uncle Emmett offered her his arm. Sunny wished it was Jed’s arm she was being offered. Why did her brain insist on thinking those ridiculous thoughts? It was as if they were cobwebs clinging and determined to stay put.

  Outside at the sled she placed her foot on the step. Uncle Emmett stopped her. “Why don’t you ride with Jed, Sunshine?” He leaned over and, not bothering to keep his voice low, he said, “I want you two to take your sweet time and let this old married man have some time alone with his sweetheart on their anniversary.”

  “Oh. I forgot. Happy anniversary, Uncle Emmett.” Sunny stood on her tiptoes and gave him a kiss on his cold cheek. Her aunt was already seated on the sled, so she grabbed her gloved hand and squeezed it. “You, too, Aunt Minnie.”

  “Thank you, precious.” Aunt Minnie’s attention shifted to Uncle Emmett. Their eyes locked. Love, plain and clear, passed between them. Like it always did.

  Sunny silently moved away and joined Jed at the other sled. “Uncle Emmett wants me to ride with you. He told me to tell you that he wants us to take our time. It’s their anniversary and he’d like some time alone with Aunt Min.” She sneaked a peek at her aunt and uncle and smiled. It would be wonderful to still be in love with someone after all those years.

  Aunt Minnie snuggled against Uncle Emmett, and her head rested on his shoulder as they pulled away. The horses’ hooves clomped in the crusty snow, and bells tinkled with each bob of their heads.

  The scene reminded Sunny of her parents and how many times she’d seen them snuggle and share looks overflowing with love like that. Joy wrapped around Sunny like a warm cloak on a cold day. How blessed she was to have two such wonderful examples of what a marriage could and should be like.

  “Shall we?” Jed’s voice called to her.

  She faced him.

  He offered her his hand.

  Not one to usually accept help, she decided she would. But just this once.

  She settled her hand into his. His large hand swallowed her small one when his fingers closed over the top.

  A cozy feeling unlike any she’d ever felt before spread up her arm and settled into her heart.

  Her eyes searched for Jed’s in the lantern’s glow, but his attention was on their hands.

  Did he feel it, too? Whatever it was.

  Seconds passed, then his bluebird eyes drifted to hers.

  His eyes were filled with a softness she’d never seen in them before.

  Only one sound at that moment could be heard—the beating of her heart, which seemed to have increased.

  Goliath stomped his hoof, and Samson shook his head, showing their impatience.

  Jed blinked, and the moment shattered. “We’d better get going.” Why had his voice sounded deeper and broken just now? And why had that voice affected her so?

  He cleared his throat and helped her into the front seat of the sled. This sled and the one her aunt and uncle had were different from the ones they used to feed with. These two had seats and sideboards.

  Heated rocks at her feet felt nice, but not nearly as nice as the heat from Jed’s touch only moments ago.

  Jed draped the heavy bearskin over her legs, and the seat dipped when he lowered his bulky frame onto it. He picked u
p the lines and gave a swat on the horses’ rumps.

  Lanterns and the full moon cleared a path to the pond.

  “Brrr. It’s cold.” She snuggled her coat closer to her, wishing she could snuggle against Jed instead.

  Jed surprised her. He slipped his arm around and pulled her closer to his side. She looked up at him, but he kept his gaze forward. When they neared the site, he removed his arm and scooted over. Sunny didn’t understand why he did that. But, then again, he probably didn’t want to give anyone the wrong idea about the two of them. So why was that wrong idea suddenly feeling so very right?

  At the ice pond Jed helped her down. She reached in back to help unload, but he stopped her. “Why don’t you go sit down by the fire? I’ll get this.”

  Strange how in that moment it felt like a kind and gallant gesture rather than him saying she couldn’t handle it. “You sure?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  He didn’t need to tell her more than once. She was freezing. She hurried to the closest of the three blazing fires and sat on one of the logs circling the fire pit. Pine and aspen logs snapped and spit in front of her, making the area warm and cozy. Orange and yellow lit up the ground beneath her feet, and sweet, blessed heat surrounded her.

  Uncle Emmett hung the cast-iron soup kettle on the hook hanging from a wrought-iron frame. Flames licked the bottom of the potbelly cauldron.

  Minutes later the neighbors started arriving.

  The Benson, Miller and Wright families greeted Sunny warmly. Then the women scurried off to set food onto the makeshift tables, and the children went off to play.

  “Sure sorry to hear about your pa. He was a good man,” Mr. Benson said. Mr. Miller and Mr. Wright agreed. “You still planning on keeping that ranch of yours?” Mr. Benson asked.

  Sunny drew her shoulders up. “Yes, sir, I am.”

  He quirked a half-pitying smile at her. “You can’t run that place by yourself. You know that, don’t you?”

  Here it comes again, she thought. Why didn’t folks just mind their own business and leave her to hers? She’d been around this particular mountain enough to know that wasn’t likely to ever happen. So even though it was none of his business, she knew if she didn’t answer him that Mr. Miller and Mr. Wright would badger her, too. “Yes, sir, I know that. I’ve got some money saved, and after I buy a few head of bred cows, I’ll hire a couple of hands who are willing to come work for me for room and board until I sell the calves.”

  “You think you’ll find two men who’d be willing to do that?” This time Mr. Miller chimed in, looking at her as if she were gone in the head.

  Well, she wasn’t. Pa had always told her she had a good business head on her. “Yes, sir. My pa did. When the ranch grew he paid them in cows and gave them a generous wage. I plan to do the same. They can raise their cows on my place for as long as they work for me.”

  “What happens when their herds get too large? You know you have to figure at least two or more tons of hay for each cow. Enough to feed ’em through the winter and early spring.”

  Sunny held her rising frustration at bay. Did these men think she’d woken up one day and decided she wanted to own a ranch? Well, she hadn’t. She was born and raised on one, and Pa had taught her everything there was to know about ranching. Both the working and the business end. “Thank you, Mr. Benson, for that information, but Pa taught me that, as well. Amongst other things.” She forced a smile on her face.

  “Gentlemen, would you mind if I steal Sunny from you? I need her help.” Jed spoke from behind her.

  Sunny turned and a knowing look passed between them. This was one time she was glad Jed had come to her rescue. She was afraid if they continued badgering her, she might say something she’d later regret. Being disrespectful wasn’t something her pa had taught her. She mouthed the words thank you to Jed.

  “No, that’s quite all right, Jed,” Mr. Benson said.

  When they turned to leave, Sunny heard Mr. Miller say, “She won’t be running that ranch of hers by herself. It won’t be long before her and Jed get hitched.”

  Sunny gasped, and her eyes went wide with horror wondering if Jed had heard them, too. Without turning her head she peered over at him. If he had heard them, he wasn’t letting it show. For that she was truly grateful.

  * * *

  Jed led Sunny far away from the men. Crusted snow crunched under their feet. Children’s laughter faded the farther they walked. When he’d decided to rescue her, he hadn’t figured the men would take his gesture the way they had. Good thing Emmett wasn’t around to hear their comment about him and Sunny getting hitched. Not that he would mind marrying Sunny, but he couldn’t afford to lose his job. Or his dignity.

  He shoved the crown of his cowboy hat farther onto his head. When Emmett had asked him to keep an eye on Sunny, had the man Jed respected stopped to think about how hard it would be on Jed? Didn’t Emmett see how attractive his niece was to a man? To this man especially? Did Emmett think Jed’s heart was made of steel or something?

  Jed couldn’t take too much more or keep this up much longer. His feelings for Sunny were growing with each minute he spent with her. Tonight, back at the ranch house, when he’d taken her hand to help her into the sled, he’d come far too close to kissing her. Good thing he hadn’t, though. He refused to betray Emmett’s trust.

  Jed glanced over at her. Lands, she was easy on a man’s eyes. Before he lost his heart to her completely, or did something he would regret, he needed to sit down and have an honest man-to-man talk with Emmett about all of this.

  “Where we going?” Sunny’s sweet voice from beside him tugged his mind back into the moment.

  “I don’t know. I hadn’t gotten that far. I just wanted to get you out of there. I could tell the neighbors were making you uncomfortable.”

  “They sure were. Thank you, Jed.”

  Jed smiled. They were making progress. This time she didn’t rebuke him, saying she could take care of herself. A fact he had no doubt about.

  “I don’t understand why everyone thinks I should sell my ranch. Why would I do that? I’m more than capable of getting it up and running again. And if I wasn’t, I’d rather up and marry someone in order to keep it if I had to.” She shoved her gloved hands into the large pockets of her coat.

  If Jed wasn’t trying to buy his own spread, he’d offer to marry her in order for her to keep her ranch. If he had to, he quickly tacked on. He had no doubt, however, that she was more than able to run the place herself. She didn’t need him.

  Besides, he wanted to buy his own spread, not inherit one through marriage, in order to prove to his father that he was every bit as capable as his brothers were.

  “Sunny, that alone is something you need to decide. You know what you can and can’t do. I personally have no doubt that you are more than capable of restoring your ranch back to its former glory. Don’t let anyone talk you out of it, or into selling it.” He huffed. “I just got through telling you not to let anyone tell you what to do, and what do I go and do? Tell you not to let anyone talk you into selling it.”

  She laid her hand on his arm. “Thank you for believing in me.”

  His gaze slid to hers and settled there. Didn’t she know how that little gesture affected him? How her touch or her nearness affected him? Of course she didn’t. How could she? He’d never told her.

  “And for telling me what to do,” she said through a chuckle.

  His gaze snagged on hers and she winked at him. A wink that wasn’t flirtatious, and yet he wished it had been.

  Inwardly he groaned. He had to stop his mind from taking him down a trail that couldn’t be traveled. At least not until he talked to Emmett. The idea of hurting the man or costing Jed his job twisted his gut. He needed to pray about having that talk with Emmett. And about a future with Sunny. If there ever could be one, that is.

  The dinner bell clanged and echoed through the valley.

  “Reckon we should head back to the fire and get something to
eat.” Sunny turned and headed that direction, and Jed followed.

  When they arrived, everyone was gathered around the middle fire.

  “Shall we pray?” Emmett bowed his head and everyone else did, too. “Father, we thank You for this gathering. Thank You for these people and thank You for this food. May our fellowship glorify You. In Jesus’s name. Amen.”

  “Amen,” everyone responded.

  The women served their menfolk.

  Sunny dished up a bowl of steaming potato cheese soup and handed it to Jed along with three buttered rolls.

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. After we get our food dished up, you want to join me?” Her inviting smile and her sweetness went straight to his heart. He wanted to enjoy her company as often and as long as he could. The way he justified it in his mind was Emmett said to keep an eye on her. And keep an eye on her he would.

  “Uh-huh.” He gave her a smile of his own.

  They went and sat down by the least-occupied fire. Within minutes the other hands joined them. While disappointed, he figured it was for the best. At least their presence kept him honest and his actions completely respectable.

  * * *

  “Well, what do you know. There is a lady under all that boyish exterior after all. And a fine-looking one at that.” Cody eyed Sunny like a mountain lion eyeing dinner.

  Sunny glanced up at Cody, her appetite vanished.

  “Give it a rest, Cody,” Jed growled.

  “Give what a rest?” Cody turned innocent eyes on his boss. “Complimenting your woman?”

  George’s spoon stopped midway to his mouth. Matt kept his head down but his eyes bounced between her and Jed. Sunny wanted to find the nearest cave to hide out in.

  Jed sent Cody an intimidating stare. “Watch your mouth, Cody.”

  “It’s the truth, ain’t it? Anyone with eyes can see that it is.”

  George and Matt suddenly got very interested in their food, each taking one spoonful of soup after another and eating their rolls as if they hadn’t had a meal in weeks.

  Sunny couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Cody was way out of line this time. It was one thing to pick on her, but to put Jed in the middle with something so ridiculous, well, she refused to let that slide. “I’m not anyone’s woman. Jed and I are friends. Friends who respect one another. Something you know nothing about, Cody.”