Reforming the Rebel (Cowboys and Angels Book 14)

by Kirsten Osbourne

  John nodded solemnly. He would do anything Patience asked of him. That was a fact as sure as the sky was blue.

  The next few minutes were a blur of dishes, glasses, and food. The other servers also thought John was a new server, and they gave him errands to run and treated him like a part of the team.

  As soon as five minutes had passed, John raced down the hall to the storeroom. He saw that Patience had propped an empty crate against the bulky door frame to ensure she didn’t get locked in again. John nodded admiringly.

  “I had to see you,” John began, walking toward Patience and grabbing her hand.

  Patience’s heart fluttered with excitement that John was touching her. She wanted nothing more than for him to keep touching her—all over her body. Whoa. Where are all these thoughts coming from? Patience tried to refocus on her anger and the issue at hand. “What are you doing here?”

  John smiled calmly. “I’m proving to your parents that I’m a hardworking, upstanding citizen who deserves a shot to be your husband.”

  At the mention of the word husband, Patience’s stomach started doing cartwheels. “Husband?”

  “Well, one step at a time, I suppose.” John grinned, showing his nice, white teeth. “But I’ll say it now, Patience Graham—one day, I intend to marry you.”

  Patience sighed sadly. “I’m glad you have a plan to win my parents over, but right now, they’re very upset. They’ve forbidden me from even talking to you.”

  “Wow. I knew your father was angry with me when he answered the door, but I wasn’t sure why. Did he give you the package I brought for you?” John hoped he had.

  Patience shook her head. “Not yet. But usually my father needs a day or two to cool off after he’s gotten angry. I’m going to wait until tomorrow or the next day to ask about my package. What’s in it, by the way?”

  “Oh, no. You’re not getting that out of me, Patience Graham! I’ll never tell—you’ll have to open it for yourself!” John grabbed both of Patience’s hands and squeezed them. “I can’t believe how good it feels to see you.”

  “It feels good to see you, too,” Patience agreed. “Now, we should get back to work. Did you see how busy it is tonight?”

  “Yes. I’m working harder than I work on my delivery route!” John exclaimed.

  “Good. Hard work is very attractive to me.” Patience smiled at John. Despite her irritation, he was incredibly handsome, and he was clearly trying his best. One thing was bothering her, though. Concern flickered across her face.

  “What is it, Patience?” John asked softly.

  “It’s nothing . . .” Patience felt uncomfortable bringing it up, but she knew she should ask. “My mother heard some rumblings from the women in our church . . . about you.”

  John immediately knew what she was talking about. He felt ashamed. “This is about my drinking, isn’t it? Is that why your parents hate me?”

  Patience looked nervously down the hall that led to the restaurant’s dining room. If her parents caught her in the storeroom—and with John Jackson, no less—they would not be pleased. “They don’t hate you, they just don’t know you. And yes, you’re right—what they’ve heard about you from their church friends is that you abuse alcohol. They don’t want me talking to you at all.”

  John squeezed Patience’s hand. “I vow to you, Patience, that I’ll be nothing but honest with you any time you ask. Whatever you need, I promise to tell you the whole truth.”

  “I trust you.” Patience squeezed his hand back.

  “I did have a problem with drinking a while ago. Before my father remarried my stepmother, Toria, I was in a bad way. I was irresponsible. I drank too much. I went out to saloons practically every night,” John began. He didn’t know why he was being so candid with Patience, but it felt right.

  “What changed?” Patience could tell this was hard for John to talk about, but he was trying to be strong for her.

  “When Toria and my father got married, at first, I was mad. I resented her for not being my mother. Eventually, I started to see how good she was for our family. That’s when I knew I had to stop drinking,” John explained.

  “You mean you just stopped? Isn’t that difficult?” Patience didn’t know much about the problem, but she did have an understanding of what people looked like when they came into the restaurant after having a few too many drinks at one of the saloons.

  “It actually wasn’t as hard as I expected. Once I knew that I had made a commitment to my family to behave more responsibly, the rest was much easier. And . . . you also played a part in it, too,” John admitted.

  “Me? How is that possible?” Patience looked genuinely shocked.

  “Do you remember the first time we met?” John asked.

  Patience nodded.

  John remembered their first conversation and how impressed he had been by Patience. “I was interested in you from the moment I first saw you. I thought you were beautiful and kind and smart and way too good of a person to ever consider being with someone like me.”

  “I don’t understand what that has to do with your not drinking anymore.” Patience frowned.

  “I decided that I would figure out a way to become worthy of your love. It’s as simple as that.” John looked deep into Patience’s eyes. Just like he felt like he could eat her strawberry pie each day for the rest of his life, he felt like he could stare into her eyes every day.

  Patience was blown away. No one had ever valued her or respected her so much that they would make a major change in their own lives just to gain her approval. She was touched that John valued her opinion so highly. She didn’t know what to say. A quiet “Thank you” was all she could manage.

  “Patience Graham, I swear to you—I will find a way to make your parents approve of me. And the moment they do, I’m going to make you my bride. That is a promise.” John could feel himself getting a little carried away, but he couldn’t help himself. When he was with Patience, he felt like he was dancing on air. He couldn’t believe his luck in meeting her. “I need to be a good example to my new little brother or sister anyway.”

  Patience felt a cold chill come over her, and she remembered that her parents had expressly forbidden her to talk with John Jackson. And here she was holding his hand, an unmarried woman alone in a dark room with a bachelor man known for drinking. If anyone walked in on them in that moment, it would have been a disaster. In her heart, she believed John when he said his drinking days were over and he was working to reform himself. But was that enough? And would that ever be enough for her overprotective parents?

  Chapter Four

  Each night that week, John would return from his delivery route, eat dinner at home very quickly, and hurry over to Graham’s Grub. For the first few nights, he simply dressed and acted the part. On the fourth night, Robert Graham figured out what was going on.

  “I need to speak with you, son.” Robert’s gruff voice made John nervous. “Let’s go into the kitchen.”

  Robert put his hand on John’s shoulder and steered him into the kitchen. They passed through a cloud of smoke from a rowdy group of restaurant patrons. “What are you doing in my restaurant?” Robert demanded as soon as they were out of hearing range.

  “With all due respect, sir, I came here to prove to you that I’m honest, loyal, and hardworking. I’ll work here without a wage until the time comes when you see that I’m a good man.” John knew he shouldn’t press his luck and mention his plan to marry Patience. First, he had to get in the Grahams’ good graces.

  Robert frowned, his face covered in red splotches. “Why would you work for no wage? That doesn’t make sense.”

  “It may not make sense to you, Mr. Graham, but a man’s name is his worth. I need to do this.” John decided to leave it at that. Mr. Graham would either understand and let him stay, or he wouldn’t understand, and he’d be kicked out onto the streets.

  Robert hesitated. He looked back and forth between John and the crowded dining room just beyond the kitch
en door. He let out an exasperated sigh. “Fine. But this is a trial period only. Don’t just stand there. Get to work!”

  Throughout the week, John tried to think of new ways to be helpful around the restaurant. He fixed the door to the storeroom so it wouldn’t continue to jam. He rearranged the pots and pans in the kitchen in a way that made more sense to the kitchen staff. He climbed up on a ladder and cleaned windows that were on the second floor of the buildings.

  Through it all, John hoped the Grahams would start to see him as a new man, a different man than his former reputation suggested. He was kind and honest, and tried to give them plenty of space. He knew that ultimately, their decision would come down to what was in their hearts, and unfortunately, he had no control over that. All he could do was keep showing up and doing the work.

  Patience was thrilled that John was spending every evening at the restaurant. Sometimes during the day on his delivery route, he’d have Willie deliver a special package just for Patience. He found her small scented soaps, ink pens, and more books he thought she would enjoy. Patience was always extremely grateful for the presents he brought her. She especially loved her hymn book.

  Little by little, Patience was learning who John Jackson truly was. One morning, as she swept the kitchen, she wondered what her mother thought of John.

  Lydia frowned. “What do you mean, what do I think of John?” Truth be told, she still had concerns about the man. Creede was a town full of dangers lurking around every corner, and she wasn’t convinced that John had managed to fully extricate himself from them yet.

  “He works very hard at the restaurant. Do you think sometimes people in this town are a little harsh on him because he used to be a drinker?” Patience asked thoughtfully.

  Lydia looked aghast. “I don’t think anyone’s being too hard on him. The man was probably hanging around with all of those other unsavory characters in town, like the former sheriff or Archibald Grady.”

  “Mother! How could you say such a thing?” Patience was hurt. John had been working so hard, and all her mother could talk about were his former drinking habits.

  “You know as well as I do that Creede is dangerous, especially for a young woman. I’m just looking out for my daughter.” Lydia sniffed.

  Patience’s gaze softened. “I know that, Mother. But John really is trying hard. Can you just promise me to give him a chance?”

  Lydia was torn. She and her husband had always worked hard in order to make sure Patience did not want for anything. Now, her daughter, practically a grown woman, was asking her to accept a man that she cared for. On the other hand, the man in question was a known drinker in a town with a less-than-stellar track record for keeping young women safe. What was a mother to do?

  “Patience, I’ve thought about it, and I will pray on it. I understand this is very important to you, and you know I love you. But as your mother, I also need to keep you safe from harm. I feel I am in a difficult position. Can you see that?” Lydia hoped her daughter would understand.

  Patience nodded. “I hope you come to the right answer, Mother. John really is a wonderful person.”

  “I know you believe that, Patience. But you need to respect your parents’ wishes. We only want what’s best for you, and even while John works here, we would prefer you do not speak with him,” Lydia replied.

  Patience continued to sweep the floor. “Yes, Mother. I understand.”

  “I’m going to the bank to make a deposit. We can start preparing for lunch when I get back.” Lydia kissed her daughter on the cheek and left the kitchen.

  A few minutes later, there was a knock on the front entrance to Graham’s Grub. Patience went to answer it.

  John stood on the doorstep wearing a huge grin and carrying a small, neatly wrapped package.

  Patience looked around to make sure no one else could see them. “Come inside, quickly,” Patience whispered.

  John stepped inside, and Patience closed the door.

  “Why all the secrecy?” John seemed amused.

  “My parents still don’t want me speaking with you.” Patience explained.

  John’s face fell. “Oh. I thought I was making progress.”

  “I think you are!” Patience tried to reassure John. “They’re just . . . very set in their ways. These things take some time. That’s all.”

  “Sure.” John didn’t seem convinced. He turned his gaze to his package. “This is for you.”

  “Oh, John, thank you. You don’t need to keep bringing me gifts. Don’t get me wrong. I love them! I just want to make sure you don’t feel like you have to bring me a gift every day.”

  “I enjoy bringing you gifts.” John shook his head. “When are you going to realize that? When I see you smile, it makes my day.”

  Patience blushed. “You’re so sweet. Thank you again.”

  “Are you going to open it?” John prodded.

  “Oh, yes!” Patience had almost forgotten about the package John was holding. She accepted it from him and delicately unwrapped the pretty paper. Inside was a white handkerchief with her first name embroidered on it. “It’s beautiful.”

  “I’m glad you like it,” John said.

  “But how did you find someone who would embroider it for you?” Patience asked, suddenly a bit nervous. If word got out about him finding a woman to do it for him, would her parents get upset with him again?

  “Don’t worry. It was part of a shipment my father received. I think it refers to patience, the virtue, but I thought it would work equally well because of your name,” John reassured her. He knew exactly why she was worried. If he had asked his stepmother or anyone else in Creede to stitch Patience’s name on anything, word would have traveled around town quickly.

  “Good thinking. I love it. Thank you, John.” Patience wished she could do something kind for John in return, but nothing came to mind. She also knew she needed to get him out of the house before her mother returned and found him there.

  “You’re welcome.” John loved looking at Patience, but it seemed like something was troubling the young woman. “What’s wrong?”

  “I hate to be rude, especially after you gave me such a thoughtful gift, but my parents have made it abundantly clear that they do not want me speaking to you. I think you need to leave before they see you here.” Patience worried that John would leave in anger and never return.

  “I understand. But I want to let you know I won’t give up hope. I plan to work as many shifts at the restaurant as it takes until I’ve earned your parents’ trust. I’m never going to give up on you, Patience Graham.” John’s gaze was steady and devoted, and Patience knew he meant it. He took her hand, brought it to his lips, and kissed it. Chills ran up and down her spine, and her stomach did a flip.

  Patience watched as John opened the door, looked around to make sure her parents weren’t in sight, and went back to his wagon. As he drove off, she sighed as she imagined what it would be like once her parents finally accepted John. She knew John meant what he had said, but she also knew how firm and unyielding her parents could be. Would John grow impatient and give up on her? He said he wouldn’t now, but what if he worked at the restaurant for years and years and the Grahams refused to yield? Just thinking about it made Patience sad.

  She tried to distract herself by cleaning up the kitchen so she and her mother could start preparing lunch as soon as Lydia returned. At times like this, she was glad that the restaurant was a family business. There was rarely a time when she didn’t have a chore or a task to complete. She never sat idle because there was always more to do. This came in handy when she was trying to avoid thinking about a certain deliveryman’s broad shoulders and handsome face.

  John returned to the mercantile and found Willie putting away supplies from the latest shipment.

  “Where have you been? I’ve unpacked four crates so far!” Willie exclaimed.

  “I needed to make an urgent delivery,” John explained.

  Willie frowned. “No, because when th
ere’s an urgent delivery, Toria writes it down on the list for the day. There were no urgent deliveries marked down for today.”

  John sighed. Keeping his special gifts for Patience secret from Willie was proving to be more difficult than he anticipated.

  Fortunately, Toria interrupted them before Willie could ask any more questions. ”John and Willie, this shipment was larger than I expected. Do you think you could do the rest of your deliveries tomorrow and help unload all the other crates in the back?”

  “That would be fine,” John told his stepmother.

  “No problem,” Willie agreed.

  “Thank you. Oh, and I need to go into the house and check on the roast I’m making for dinner. Could you watch the shop for a while? Your father is at the bank,” Toria said.

  “Not a problem.” John took one of the empty crates Willie had just unloaded and put it in the back of the mercantile. He found one of the full crates and walked it to the front of the store. He and his father both tried to get Toria to rest during the day while she was expecting, so he was pleased to see her take a break.

  “Thank you!” Toria went upstairs to the Jacksons’ living quarters.

  As John began unpacking the crate, three men walked through the front door of the mercantile. Though it was early afternoon, one of them was stumbling, and the other two men were supporting him.

  “John!” the drunk man, Reilly Adams, called out. “Our long-lost friend!”

  Willie stiffened as he saw the men approach and looked at John, trying to figure out what to do. He didn’t like the feeling he got when he saw these men. He had seen them around town before, and they were never up to anything good.

  John smiled at Willie. He had the situation under control. “Hello, gentlemen. What can I do for you today?”

  Grant Peters, who was holding Reilly upright, grinned at John, revealing his mouth full of crooked yellow teeth. ”You’re the man we wanted to see!”

  The third man, Roger Seaborne, ran his hands over a set of china on display. The shelf it was on rattled a little, and John walked over to hold it steady. “We have something we know you’ll be interested in.”