“Is that right? What would that be?” John asked calmly. Though Reilly, Grant, and Roger were among his former close friends, he knew that he did not want to spend any more time with them. They were drinkers and gamblers, spending nearly all their paychecks just as soon as they received them.
“Archie Grady’s organizing a poker game tonight. We are all going to play,” Grant explained.
“Thank you for letting me know, but I’m not interested,” John replied quickly. John didn’t trust a single thing that had to do with Archie Grady. The man was rotten to the core, and people who got mixed up with him seemed to have terrible fates befall them.
“Why not?” Reilly cried. “You don’t want to have fun with us anymore?”
John turned to look at Grant. “You two really should take Reilly home so he can sleep this off. He does not look well.”
“I’m fine!” Reilly shouted.
Willie felt worse and worse. He knew if Toria came back into the store, she would not be happy. Still, he wasn’t sure what to do. He continued to unload items from the crate onto the shelves. He tried to ignore the men’s loud conversation. Hopefully, they’d be gone soon.
John walked up to Reilly and put his arm around him. “Reilly, clearly you’ve had too much to drink. It’s the middle of the day, and there are good, decent people going about their business, trying to have a nice day. I suggest you go home, splash some water on your face, and get a good night’s rest. Got it?”
Reilly scowled at John and wriggled out of his grasp.
“Where’s the fun in that?” Roger asked. “What happened to the John Jackson who went out drinking with us nearly every evening?”
“What happened to the John Jackson who never passed up an opportunity to play in a poker tournament?” Grant added.
“I’m done with all of that now,” John told them. “I don’t need to drink to have a good time. I have other things that take up my time.”
Grant and Roger looked amused. Reilly staggered around the store, not paying attention to the conversation. Willie kept his eye on him, not wanting him to damage any of the merchandise.
“Come on, John. Come out with us. We haven’t seen you in so long. You’ve turned your back on your friends,” Grant accused.
John felt like a true friend would support him in his decision to give up drinking, but he didn’t want to cause trouble. He just wanted to get his so-called friends out of the mercantile as soon as possible before they broke something.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Roger chimed in.
John tried to be as polite and peaceable as he could. “No thank you, gentlemen. Now, did you need anything today? How can I help you? If you aren’t here to purchase anything, I’m afraid I need to get back to work.”
“What’s wrong with you?” Grant cried, his face showing a sudden flash of anger. “You’ve changed!”
John nodded calmly. “That’s right, Grant. I have. Now, I suggest you three leave the mercantile and go about your day.”
“You’re going to regret this,” Grant vowed. He turned to Roger. “Let’s go.”
Grant and Roger walked over to Reilly and helped him stand up straight. As they walked to the front door, Toria came back down into the mercantile and watched them stumble along.
“What was that about? I heard their voices all the way from upstairs,” Toria told John.
John sighed. “Unfortunately, those are a few old friends of mine, from when I was drinking. I know it doesn’t seem like a smart decision to associate with men like that, but at the time, I enjoyed spending time with them. Now I realize that the only thing we had in common was drinking.”
“Hmm.” Through the window, Toria could see the three men slowly lurching down the street together. “You need to be careful with that group. They sounded like they were up to no good.”
“Trust me, Toria. I can handle them. I haven’t had a drop to drink in months, and I feel a lot better. I think I’m becoming the man I need to be in order to be a good husband and father.” John blushed. “One day, I mean. Not necessarily now.”
Toria had a strong hunch that John was talking about Patience Graham, but she didn’t want to make him feel uncomfortable or draw too much attention to the subject. If John and Patience were meant to be a couple, they’d find their way to one another somehow, just as she and Mortimer had. She was pleased to see her stepson taking responsibility for his actions.
Still, Toria couldn’t shake the feeling that the three men who had behaved badly in the store might cause trouble for him down the line. “It’s not you I’m worried about, John. I know you can handle their antics. It’s them I’m worried about. I’m not sure at what lengths men like that would go to in order to get their way.”
“I know you’re a little protective of me, and I appreciate that. But I think you are overreacting in this situation. I’ll be fine,” John reassured his stepmother.
Toria put a hand on his shoulder. “You’re probably right, John. You can’t blame me for wanting what’s best for you, though.”
John shook his head. He was lucky to have someone who cared about him so much. When his father had remarried, he had worried that there would be no room in his new marriage for his adult son. Instead, Toria had been nothing but warm and generous to him. She had never tried to take the place of his late mother. Instead, she tried to make his life better and support him. She was an incredible woman and a wonderful wife to his father. John hoped that one day, he’d be blessed with the same kind of love that Toria and Mortimer shared.
And he especially hoped that the person he’d find that love with was Patience Graham.
Chapter Five
Patience soaked a rag in warm, soapy water, wrung it out, and carried it into the restaurant’s main dining room. She wiped and scrubbed each table until it gleamed. As she cleaned, there was a knock at the front entrance to the restaurant. Patience looked up at the large clock hanging on the wall. There were two hours before the restaurant would open for lunch.
Before she could go to the door, Robert strode to the entrance from the kitchen. “I’ll get it, dear.” Robert opened the door. “We’re not open until noon, young man.”
“Actually, I’m here about something else. May I have a few moments of your time, sir?” Alexander Jacobs thrust his hand out.
Robert shook it. “Yes, but only a few moments. We’re preparing to serve lunch.” He stepped aside and ushered the young man in.
Alexander had dark hair and hazel eyes. Patience had seen him before in town but didn’t know him well. Although he moved his lips so they were turned up into a smile, his eyes seemed hard and angry. Patience did not have a good feeling about the man.
“We can talk in my office.” Robert led Alexander down one of the narrow corridors to his small office. The desk and floor were covered in stacks of paperwork, and Robert had to squeeze around the desk in order to get to his chair. “Please excuse the mess. We are having a profitable year, but that leaves me little time to clean, I’m afraid.” Alexander sat down in the chair nearest to the door.
Alexander launched right into his request. “Sir, I believe you know my father, Andrew Jacobs, who owns the hotel on the other side of town. I manage the front desk. I have a good, steady job and now I’m ready to settle down and find a wife to share my life with. I’d like to ask your permission to court your daughter, Patience. She’s the most beautiful young woman in town, and anyone would be lucky to have her as a wife.”
Robert folded his hands together, thinking. “I think that would be fine. I do know your father, and he’s a good man. I also know that several men are going to want to court my daughter, and I won’t be able to stay in denial much longer. My daughter is growing up. If you want to ask her out on a date, you have my permission.”
“Thank you, sir. I’ll leave you to get to your busy day.” Alexander stood up, and Robert walked him out to the front of the restaurant.
“Patience,” Robert called. “This young
man would like a word with you.”
Robert returned to the kitchen to give Alexander and Patience some privacy. He was thrilled that a young, wealthy man like Alexander was interested in Patience. John Jackson had been spending far too much time at the restaurant, and Robert was suspicious of the feelings between John and his daughter. Robert had to admit that John was growing on him, but that didn’t mean he wanted a man with a wild reputation to marry his only daughter. Someone like Alexander was a far more suitable match.
In the dining area, Patience paused and waited for Alexander to explain himself. “Patience, I’d like to take you out on a date. Would you like that?” Alexander asked.
Patience looked down at the floor. She was slightly upset that this was what her father and Alexander had discussed in his office. She knew her father would look out for her best interests, but she felt that in her heart, she was already spoken for. John was the man she spent her days and nights dreaming about, not anyone else. She didn’t know Alexander well and didn’t care to. He seemed like many of the other men in town, concerned with money and nothing more.
She knew her father probably felt Alexander was a suitable match due to his wealth, but she far preferred John’s kind, gentle gaze and thoughtful gifts. Still, she knew that there were no guarantees with John. For one thing, she was worried about his drinking. Though she thought about him a lot, she was concerned that her future may be put in jeopardy by his behavior. For another, even if John behaved perfectly for the rest of his life, there was a good chance the Grahams would never approve of him for marriage.
If that were the case, maybe it wouldn’t be so terrible to be married to Alexander Jacobs. He certainly would be able to offer her a comfortable life. And if anything happened to her parents, and they became ill, he could easily provide for them, too. Something about him just made Patience feel strange, but she tried to ignore that feeling.
“Yes. I’d like that,” Patience finally replied after going back and forth in her head.
Alexander’s lips curled up into another smile, but once again, his eyes remained indifferent. “I’ll see you tomorrow at five o’clock. I’ll meet you here.”
“I’ll have to ask my parents if I can leave. I usually work here for the dinner shift,” Patience explained.
“That’s fine.” Alexander seemed bored. “I can wait while you ask.”
“I’ll be right back.” Patience walked toward the kitchen, where her mother was preparing a pasta with chicken and mushrooms for lunch. Robert was adding up figures at the table. “Mother, Father, Alexander Jacobs has asked if I can go on a date with him tomorrow evening. Is it all right if I leave the restaurant starting at five o’clock tomorrow?”
Lydia smiled as she stirred the pasta. Robert had told her about Alexander’s interest, and she thought he was a smart match for her daughter. “That’s perfectly fine, dear.”
Patience frowned. “What about the restaurant? Who will serve?”
“I’ll find someone to take your place. Don’t worry about us. You should enjoy yourself!” Lydia told her daughter. Patience worked hard every day of the week. She deserved an evening to have fun and get to know Alexander better. Lydia had seen the house the Jacobs family owned, and it was beautiful and spacious. If Patience married into the Jacobs family, Lydia would never worry about her daughter’s future again.
“Okay. Thank you,” Patience said quietly. “I’ll get back to cleaning now.”
After she had left the kitchen, Robert turned to Lydia. “She seemed a little sad, didn’t she? What do you think is the problem?”
Lydia pressed her lips together into a straight line. “I’m worried it has something to do with that John Jackson.”
“I’ve worried the same thing before,” Robert admitted. “Do you think I should ask him to stop coming to the restaurant?”
“Yes, I think that would be wise,” Lydia agreed.
Robert set his pencil down on the table. “I have nothing against the young man, but for our daughter . . . he just doesn’t seem right.”
“I agree with you, dear.” Lydia removed the pasta from the stovetop and set it aside to cool. “Now, we need to make sure our daughter feels the same way.”
Out in the dining area, Patience felt a cold breeze as she imagined a life with Alexander Jacobs.
“That’s because he isn’t the right man for you, Patience.” The dark-haired woman who had appeared to Patience in the storeroom had returned, and she was standing right in front of Patience.
“How did you get in? I didn’t hear the door.” Patience looked around, trying to figure out where the woman had come from.
“That doesn’t matter in the least. What matters is that you heed my advice. If you marry Alexander Jacobs, your life will be in grave danger.” The woman’s eyes pleaded for Patience to take her seriously.
“How do you know all of this? Who are you?” Patience couldn’t help but raise her voice. She felt frustrated and confused. Why was a woman she didn’t know offering her advice on one of the most important decisions in life?
The woman shook her head sadly. “You’re not ready to know who I am. But I know you, Patience. And I know that you’re about to make a huge mistake. One that you can never recover from.”
“Will you at least tell me your name? This is ridiculous.” Patience had had enough of the woman’s dramatic warnings. She wanted to continue cleaning the restaurant and be able to carry on with her day. She didn’t want to keep talking to a woman who acted like she knew everything.
“I don’t have a name in the same way you do. But you may call me Sarah, if you insist.” The woman looked around the empty restaurant. “But time will quickly run out, Patience. You need to make the right choice. You’re meant to be with John Jackson. You must marry him.”
Patience wanted to cry. Why was this woman bothering her over and over again? Didn’t she have anything better to do? Was she one of the people who lived in Mrs. Franklin’s boarding house? It wasn’t terribly far away, and sometimes, Mrs. Franklin took in people who were confused or had problems. “I don’t understand why you keep telling me these terrible things. What am I supposed to do about them?”
“You need to give John a chance. You have judged him too harshly. You’ll soon find out that he deserves better.” Sarah smiled. “It will all work out, Patience. I promise.”
“How do you know that?” Patience asked in exasperation.
“How do I know what?” Lydia brought a vase of flowers into the dining area. She began arranging it on a table near the front entrance.
Patience looked up. The woman had disappeared, but she hadn’t heard her walk away or open any of the doors. “Nothing, Mother.”
“Dear, are you all right? Maybe you should take the rest of the afternoon to rest before your date tomorrow with Alexander. I don’t want you coming down with anything.” Lydia walked over to her daughter and felt her forehead. “You don’t feel feverish. Just the same, you should rest up.”
Patience didn’t feel physically sick, but she did feel awful when she considered Sarah’s warnings. She had no idea what to do about her feelings for John or her date with Alexander.
Every time she thought about John’s gifts or the way he made her laugh, she smiled and felt a warm, glowing feeling come over her entire body. When she thought about Alexander, it was practically the opposite. It felt like there was a cold chill in the room.
Then, the familiar worry about John’s drinking crept in. He told her he had stopped, but what if he started again? Patience saw many men in Creede drink and gamble away all of the money they earned through work. Their wives and families suffered mightily because of their greed and corruption. She had always dreamed of a large family. Would John be able to provide that for her?
That evening, when John arrived at the restaurant to work, Patience met him at the front door. “I’d like to speak with you privately,” Patience told him.
“I hope I’m not in trouble.” John started to laugh
but stopped when he saw Patience’s face.
“Let’s go somewhere we can talk.” Patience led John to the small space behind the restaurant. She walked into a small clearing surrounded by several fir trees.
“Wow,” John exhaled. “This is beautiful.”
“Yes. I like to come here to think sometimes. It’s quiet and peaceful.” Patience looked around. She loved this spot, and it felt right to be here with John. But she still had some questions for him. “As you know, I told you I wanted to get to know you better before agreeing to go on a date. But the problem is there’s something I can’t stop thinking about.”
“What’s that?” John asked earnestly. He would do anything for Patience. He hated to see something bothering her.
“John, everyone around town has warned my mother and father that you’re a drinker. I’ve heard stories, too. When I think about the man I want to marry, drinking just doesn’t fit into the picture. Do you understand?” Patience tried to be as gentle as possible, but she felt her words were harsher than she intended.
“Patience, I fully understand your concerns.” John took her hands into his. “I have made mistakes in the past. But I’ve moved on, and I have you to thank for it. I promise to you, I’ll never drink a drop of alcohol again. If that’s what it takes to have you in my life, I’ll never even touch the stuff.”
Patience believed John, and she loved the way his warm hands were wrapped around hers. She nodded. “Thank you, John.”
John leaned forward and pulled Patience in closer. He locked his lips onto hers, pushing gently, let go of her hands, and wrapped his arms around her waist. Patience moved closer to him, feeling full from his warmth and love.
When Patience recovered from the shock of it, she pulled herself away from John and stepped back. “We shouldn’t have done that.”
John had a smirk on his face. “That’s a shame because it felt wonderful to me.”
Reforming the Rebel (Cowboys and Angels Book 14) Page 5
