Reforming the Rebel (Cowboys and Angels Book 14)

by Kirsten Osbourne

  “That’s beside the point!” Patience felt her face turning red. “I need to go.”

  “Now will you agree to go out on a date with me?” John asked. He knew what her answer would be.

  Patience looked pained. “My parents want me to go on a date with Alexander Jacobs. He asked my parents’ permission, and they agreed. I’m sorry, John. I should have told you sooner.”

  John shook his head. He wasn’t worried about Alexander Jacobs. “Then you need to give me a chance, too. It’s only fair.”

  “My parents don’t seem convinced, John. I know you’ve changed, but your reputation is still damaged in their minds. I’m sorry, but they haven’t changed their minds yet.” Patience felt horrible.

  John looked crushed by the news but tried to take it in stride. “I’ll keep working at it. That’s all I can do. But Patience, please remember to give me a chance. I’m sure Alexander can offer you a whole lot—nice clothing, lots of money, a large house—but he will never have what you and I have.”

  Patience bit her lower lip. She hoped John was right. How could he be so sure?

  John looked toward the restaurant. “I really should go inside so I can start working. Please remember what I said.” John pulled Patience close again and kissed her on the forehead. Patience felt another small ripple of happiness when John’s lips brushed against her skin.

  Patience waited for John to walk away so no one would see them together. Her parents had given her the evening off, too, saying she needed a break. She didn’t know what she would do all night. She liked staying busy, and the restaurant provided ample opportunity for that. She decided to go back to her room and read through the hymn book John had given her.

  John knocked on the front entrance of the door, and Robert Graham answered. “Hi, John.” He looked at the younger man uneasily.

  “Hello, Mr. Graham. I was thinking about the pipe in the back that’s causing you trouble. I have an idea—” John began.

  “Son, I’m afraid we no longer need your services here.” Robert hated to see John go. He was a hard worker and smart, too. But it wasn’t right to allow John to continue working there in the hopes of courting Robert’s daughter.

  John’s face showed confusion. “But sir, I don’t need money. I’m only here to prove myself to you and your family.”

  Robert sighed. “I know that, son. And we appreciate your work—all of it. But we don’t see you as the type of man we want our daughter to marry. We like you, and we hope you’ll find another nice girl to settle down with. But it won’t be our daughter.” Robert shook his head sadly.

  John couldn’t believe it. He had been working day and night to prove his love for Patience was true. He was exhausted, his hands had calluses, and his back ached from working all day delivering packages and all evening at the restaurant. And now, Robert was telling him his services were no longer needed? John wanted to scream or punch someone, but he knew neither of those was an option if he ever wanted to impress Robert Graham.

  Instead, John nodded slowly. “I understand. I don’t like your decision or agree with it, but I can understand that you need to protect your daughter. Please know, though, Mr. Graham, that you and I are not very different. I care for your daughter and want what’s best for her, too.” John turned to leave.

  “Thank you, son,” Robert Graham called out to John. It was unfortunate that he wouldn’t be able to stay on at the restaurant because Robert had come to appreciate working with him. But he just didn’t see John as the man who could provide the wonderful life he had imagined for his daughter.

  From the trees, Patience’s eyes filled with tears as she watched John walk away. She had overheard his conversation with her father, and she couldn’t believe how cruel her father was being. Didn’t they respect her wishes at all? It wasn’t fair. Even with his history, John was ten times the man Alexander Jacobs would ever be. Patience sat down on the ground and closed her eyes. She needed to think. There had to be a way to make this right.

  At the Jackson house, John arrived home much earlier than usual. Mortimer furrowed his brow. “What are you doing home so early? I thought you were helping at the restaurant tonight.”

  John sighed. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

  Mortimer was reading a book, and Toria was seated at the table, doing the monthly accounting duties for the mercantile. She had a special talent for making everything balance and knowing exactly how to handle any issues that arose, and Mortimer was quite content to let her work her magic. Now, Toria looked up at her stepson’s dejected face. “Is there anything we can help with?”

  “I don’t see how.” John stared at the floor.

  “It might help you to get it off your chest and tell us what’s bothering you.” Toria knew she might be pushing too hard, but sometimes John only needed a little prompting.

  “Robert Graham told me my help is no longer needed at the restaurant. They don’t think I’m husband material for their daughter. Even after I’ve worked so hard!” John’s tone wavered a bit as he tried to keep the anger out of his voice.

  Toria could feel herself getting worked up on his behalf. “Well, that doesn’t seem fair. You were offering to work for him without pay. He didn’t even give you a chance!”

  Mortimer glanced at Toria, hoping she could try to stay level-headed about this. He was glad his wife and stepson shared a strong friendship, but sometimes, Toria wasn’t objective when it came to John. She felt a strong urge to protect him and make sure he was treated fairly since his own mother had died and could no longer fill that role. This meant that she sometimes reacted with emotion instead of logic when it came to John.

  John nodded sadly. “I know. Now I’ll never have a chance with Patience. Alexander Jacobs has asked her on a date. They’ll probably get married and have lots of babies who will grow up to think of themselves as important businessmen.”

  Mortimer almost laughed at this thought but knew it would be inappropriate. “I’m sorry, son. That’s unfortunate. I’m proud of you for working hard and doing the right thing. Maybe one day, the Grahams will come around.”

  “Remember, we are both here if you need anything,” Toria reminded John.

  “I think right now, I just want to be alone.” John hung his head and walked to his bedroom.

  Toria and Mortimer exchanged a concerned look. Toria felt helpless. “I wonder if there’s anything we could do . . .”

  Mortimer’s eyes widened. “Oh, no.”

  “No, what?” Toria blinked innocently.

  “Please, Toria. John’s a grown man. You can’t fight his battles for him.” Mortimer set his book down.

  Toria’s eyes were bright. “I know, Mortimer. I’m not going to. I just wish there were a way for Patience’s parents to see the John we see at home. They’re really judging him based on his former reputation, and that’s not accurate.”

  “I think we should leave it alone. It will work itself out.” Mortimer picked his book back up again.

  Toria didn’t say anything. She went back to her accounting work. She had a few ideas in mind for how she could help John, but she didn’t want to worry her husband.

  In his room, John fumed. He couldn’t believe that a man like Alexander Jacobs was going to take Patience on a date when he himself could not. He knew he needed to channel his anger into something productive, but he wasn’t sure what to do.

  He paced the length of his bedroom and thought about it. What more could he do to show Patience how serious he was about her? Just then, he heard a few soft thuds against his window. Puzzled, he threw open the shade and looked down at the ground.

  A figure in a cloak was throwing rocks at his window. “Hey!” John called, angry. “Stop that!”

  John flew out into the living area. His parents were still in their relaxed positions.

  “Did you hear that?” John cried. “Someone was throwing stones at my window!”

  Toria and Mortimer exchanged a glance. “No, John. I haven’t heard any
thing.” Toria stood up and looked out the nearest window. “I don’t see anyone down there.”

  John wasn’t satisfied with that answer. “I’m going down there to find out.” He stomped downstairs to the mercantile and went outside. He looked all around for a figure in a cloak, but he didn’t see anyone.

  John circled the outside of the mercantile. It was early evening, and the sun had almost set. There were a few people out walking and even more passing by in wagons. He didn’t see the person who had been throwing rocks, though.

  John decided to go around the mercantile one last time before he went upstairs. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the cloak and began to run up to the person. It was the strangest thing—the closer John thought he was getting, the farther away the cloaked figure appeared. “Wait!” John panted as he raced ahead.

  The cloak disappeared into a corner, and John followed soon after. Suddenly, he ran into someone with a huge thud. John fell back and then pulled himself to his feet. When he looked up, he realized that the person he’d run into was Patience! John rubbed his head. “What are you doing here?” They were in the middle of Main Street, and it was nearly dark. This was no place for a young woman like Patience to be by herself.

  “I was going to come find you at the mercantile, but then it got so dark. I was about to turn back, and then, for some reason, I decided to stay right here. And then you ran into me!” Patience was just as surprised as John. “I should ask you the same question. What are you doing here?”

  John shook his head. He wanted to tell Patience about the figure who had been throwing rocks, but he felt foolish. The person was nowhere to be seen. “I just . . . I had a feeling I needed to be in this exact spot, so I came here.”

  “I wanted to apologize for earlier. I’ve thought about it, and I don’t think my parents are right about you. Even if they don’t approve, I don’t care. I want to go on a date with you.” Patience felt nervous telling John exactly how she felt.

  John felt his heart lift in his chest. He was so relieved and excited that Patience had changed her mind. He knew it must have taken a lot for her to disobey her parents’ wishes. “Thank you, Patience. I promise that you won’t regret this.” John grabbed Patience’s hand and put his lips to the back of it. A thrill ran up her arm at his touch. “I’m a lucky man,” John whispered hoarsely.

  Patience blushed. She was glad the sun was setting so John couldn’t see her embarrassment. However, the sunset also was a problem. She was not allowed to be out after dark on her own.

  John watched the last rays of light fade with the same concern. “Patience, while I’m delighted that I get to go on a date with you, I think right now, the best idea is to get you home.”

  Patience nodded. “I didn’t realize how late it was.”

  “I’ll walk you there.” John offered Patience his arm.

  Patience hesitated. “But my parents will see you.”

  “I’ll hide in the trees while I make sure you get to your door safely,” John offered.

  Patience considered this. She looped her arm around his. “All right.”

  John and Patience set off for the restaurant. It was longer than John normally would have walked, but he could walk anywhere with Patience on his arm.

  “I must admit, I’ve been thinking about you all day,” John told Patience.

  Patience smiled. “Me too.”

  “I wish we could spend time like that together—just the two of us—all the time,” John told her.

  Patience sighed. “That would be wonderful.” She imagined what her life might be like with John by her side. She still had a few doubts, but in that moment, standing with John in the middle of town, walking arm in arm, there was no place in the world she would rather be.

  Chapter Six

  As John and Patience approached Graham’s Grub, they heard shouts and yelling from the street. John pulled Patience off the main road, and they hid on the side of one of the buildings so they could see what was going on.

  The crowd cleared a bit, and John and Patience could see a young man lying on the road, clutching his side.

  “We need a doctor!” another young man called, sounding scared. “Is anyone here a doctor?”

  Most of the people in the crowd just pointed and stared.

  Robert and Lydia Graham raced out onto the street. “I’ve sent one of the boys to get Dr. Thomas,” Robert explained to the crowd. “Did anyone see the man who got away?” Lydia, holding a towel, walked over to the young man and pressed the towel to his side.

  Everyone began shouting.

  “He was a tall man!”

  “He was a short man!”

  “His hair was black as night!”

  “He had no hair at all!”

  “He went east!”

  “I saw him go south!”

  Finally, Robert put two fingers between his lips and let out a loud, long whistle. “The marshal will be here soon. He’ll need to talk to anyone who saw the man with the knife.”

  At the side of the building, Patience shivered. It wasn’t cold in temperature, but she felt terrible knowing that someone had been hurt inside her parents’ restaurant. Something else was bothering her, too.

  John rubbed Patience’s arms, trying to help her get warm. “I’m sure you’re scared right now, Patience, but don’t worry. Everything will be all right.”

  Patience chewed on her lip. “That could have been me lying on the ground. If I had been working tonight . . .”

  “Shh.” John put a finger to her mouth. “It wasn’t you. You’re right here, and I’ve got you now.”

  Patience did feel much better when she was wrapped in John’s embrace, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that she had escaped a terrible fate. Maybe there was something to what that Sarah woman had said after all.

  Dr. JT Thomas pulled up in a wagon just then, and the crowd parted to allow him to park. Dr. Thomas hopped out of his wagon and rushed to the wounded young man. Robert and Lydia conferred with him in hushed tones.

  Patience looked toward Graham’s Grub. “I need to find a way back inside before my parents realize I’m not there.”

  “They didn’t know you left your house?” John was confused.

  Patience shook her head. “They think I’m in my room. I was already going to disobey their rules, and I didn’t think sneaking out would hurt.”

  John surveyed the crowd, then looked at the building they were hiding behind. “I have an idea.” John took Patience’s hand and led her behind the other buildings and toward the wooded area just outside of Graham’s Grub. Tiptoeing so they wouldn’t attract attention, John and Patience made their way closer and closer to the restaurant. “Is there a back entrance?” John whispered.

  Patience nodded. She pointed to where it was along the side of the building. There were some trees nearby, and John and Patience darted behind them to stay out of sight. The crowd was still focused on the young man who had been stabbed and Dr. Thomas’s attempts to save his life.

  When they got close to the side door, Patience turned to John. “I can make it from here. Thank you so much.”

  “Of course. I’ll see you soon, Patience.” Once again, John brought Patience’s hands to his lips and kissed her delicately.

  Patience felt a flutter in her stomach and reminded herself that she needed to get back into her house. “Yes. See you soon.” She quickly walked the rest of the short distance to the side door of the house and used her set of keys to unlock it. She pulled the door shut behind her and sank down onto the floor, exhaling in relief. She had made it inside without her parents realizing she had left.

  Her heart was still pounding from spending time with John, but she knew she had better go back to her room before her parents came inside and wondered what she was doing on the floor. She stood up and returned to her room, lying down on her bed and replaying the events of the last few hours. She still couldn’t believe that she and John had somehow ended up at the exact same spot in town. He always seem
ed to show up when she needed him the most.

  Patience yawned, exhausted from all the emotions she had gone through during the day. She decided to go to sleep early. As she started to drift off, she imagined a big, beautiful wedding at the local church. John stood at the altar, awaiting his bride. And later, they’d move into a lovely house and begin to fill it one by one with children. Patience could see it all so clearly. She was starting to believe that Sarah, the mysterious stranger who kept showing up in unexpected places, was right. She and John were meant to be together. But how would she get her parents to see that? What could she possibly do to change their minds?

  The following evening, Patience went on her date with Alexander Jacobs to satisfy her parents. Throughout the evening, Alexander continued to make comments about his family’s wealth that made Patience feel uncomfortable. She had always thought it best to only talk about money with family. She and Alexander barely knew each other.

  She also noticed that Alexander was just as stiff and cold as usual at dinner. She felt none of the warmth or joy that enveloped her when she was with John. At the end of the evening, when Alexander drove her home, she was secretly relieved the date was over. When Alexander pulled the wagon in front of her house, he walked her to her front door and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

  “I hope to take you out again one day, Patience,” Alexander told her.

  Patience didn’t know what to say. “Thank you for everything. Good night.”

  Alexander waved goodbye to her and got back into his wagon. “Good night!”

  Lydia was waiting up for Patience. As soon as Patience walked into the living room of their home, Lydia was there to pepper her with questions. “How was it? Where did you go? Did you meet any of his family?”

  Patience laughed. “Fine. To a restaurant in Bachelor. No. In that order.”

  Lydia frowned. “He took you to Bachelor?” The road between Creede and Bachelor was along a narrow stretch of land with a steep drop off into the canyon below. More than a few people had lost their lives to the dangerous pass. Lydia didn’t like that on the first date, Alexander had put her daughter’s life in danger.