“I supposed you’re right.” She moved toward the hallway. “Let’s turn in. Morning will be here before we know it.” She glanced back over her shoulder. “I sure hope Ma won’t be too upset about the cat.”
Jared gave her a reassuring grin, but he wasn’t so certain. He’d have to get up early and let Mrs. Sharp know he’d been the one to bring Mrs. Cat inside the house.
*
As much as she needed rest, Emma couldn’t go back to sleep. When Jared had taken her hand, it had felt…right. She’d still been in the throes of deep emotion over his story about the cat that had tried to wipe away his boyish tears, and his touch had sent all sorts of feelings skittering through her. She liked cats pretty much. Had even enjoyed playing with the friendly ones in the barn. But she’d never had one reach out to her that way. What a strange, sweet thing.
Even stranger was Jared’s reaction. It showed how truly tender his heart was and how deeply his mother’s abandonment had wounded him. Emma could almost understand why he’d jilted her. He’d decided women couldn’t be trusted. Yet by telling her his deepest secret, he had trusted her, which moved her in ways she never could have imagined. From watching Ma and Pa, Emma saw that his story was the sort of thing married folks whispered to each other after the children were in bed at night. Telling secrets showed trust, but it also made a body vulnerable. Emma would die before she told anyone about Jared and the cat that had befriended him.
In the morning she dressed for outdoor work and made her way to the kitchen with Julia right behind her. The sound of Ma’s laughter stopped her at the door. Pa stood at the worktable straining milk from a pail into a gallon jug, while Jared wiped snow from his neck with a towel. He looked Emma’s way and winked, that cute grin on his handsome face.
“Yes, ma’am, Mrs. Sharp. That’s a fast way to wake a body up. Just dump a bucket of snow over his head.”
Pa chuckled. “So you and Cal had your first snowball fight of the winter.”
“Snow’s too dry to make balls.” Cal leaned against the wall, his arms crossed. “But I had to dump the snow out of the bucket so we could milk. What better place to dump it than my big brother’s head?”
Emma appreciated that laughter was a good way to start the day, but had Ma even noticed the cat beside the stove? She caught Jared’s eye again and questioned him with a look. He winked again and gave a quick nod. If he knew what those winks did to her heart, she doubted he’d have done it. A man shouldn’t wink at a girl unless it meant something.
“Good morning, ladies,” he said.
“’Morning,” Emma and Julia chorused as they scurried about the kitchen, dodging three oversize men in their efforts to help Ma complete the breakfast preparations. No matter how much Emma promised herself she’d beat Ma to the kitchen of a morning, Ma always got there first.
Once everyone sat at the table and Pa said the blessing, Ma slid a wily glance at Jared. “You surprise me, boy. Most men don’t care a whit for cats, and most barn cats steer clear of people. I appreciated your compassion on those helpless critters over there.”
Emma hadn’t had a chance to count the kittens, but Ma wouldn’t like it if she got up from the table to check. It was clear, though, that she wasn’t angry about the cat, which eased Emma’s concerns.
“Weelll.” Jared drawled out the word, as he often did. “Pop says cats are a necessary evil on a ranch, but I figure they’re near as important as dogs when it comes to keeping down the pest population.” He glanced at Emma, and a vulnerable expression crossed his eyes.
She gave him a bright smile and then glanced to the floor beyond the stove. “How many kittens did she have after we went to bed?” No use in trying to hide that she and Jared had been up together.
“Three more,” Jared said.
Only Julia reacted. “Did you see them born?” At Emma’s nod, she added, “Oh, I wish I’d been up, too.”
Ma grunted in her ladylike way. “You’ve seen plenty of birthings, and you’ll see plenty more.”
Pa appeared too busy eating to enter the conversation, but Emma noticed a brightening in his eyes that usually hinted he did have something to say. He finished his eggs, ham and potatoes before giving his plate a little shove to indicate he was finished.
“Cal, I’ve been thinking.” Pa’s gaze flitted briefly to Jared before settling on his younger brother.
“Yessir?” Cal ate his last bite and dabbed his lips with his napkin, something Julia had taught him to do over these past days.
“That Patrick Ahern may have been out of line to say what he did about my ranch going to a son-in-law of mine, ’specially since he seemed to think he had a chance to marry into the family.” Pa frowned at Emma. “But I’d sell the place before I let his sort own it.”
She returned the look, cross that he’d think she would marry a loafing opportunist.
Ma poured more coffee into Pa’s cup, and he took a sip before addressing Cal again.
“That don’t mean it’s a bad idea. For some time I’ve wondered what to do with the place when my daughters married and left home. Being laid up these past few days gave me time to think. I’d like the ranch to go to my sons-in-law, and so far you’re the only one in sight.”
His piercing glance at Emma made her stare down at her plate. Did he think she could just go out to the kitchen garden come summer and pick a husband like she picked a tomato?
“Now,” Pa said, “I know your pa plans to make room for you and Julia over at his place. But do you think he’d be troubled if you moved over here for good after the wedding?”
Julia squealed and grabbed Cal’s shoulder. “Oh, Pa! Oh, Cal!”
Cal’s eyes got big and round, and he sat back in his chair. “My, oh my, Mr. Sharp, that’s quite an offer.” He punched Jared, who sat on his other side. “Isn’t it?”
Jared had watched Pa with interest, but now he gave his brother a warm smile. “I’ll say it is, brother. And I believe I can speak for Pop in saying he’d be pleased as punch if you accepted. He’s always happy when good things happen for any of his sons.”
Emma’s eyes stung and then watered. Not a hint of jealousy had crossed Jared’s face, just pure, open joy on behalf of his brother. She knew him well enough to know it was for real, and she admired him all the more for it.
“That’s settled, then.” Pa drained his coffee cup and stood. “Now let’s get that barn finished.”
“You sure you feel like working, Job?” Ma’s voice wavered a bit.
“I do.” His whole manner bespoke eagerness to return to the ranch work he loved.
Emma’s eyes watered again. Pa always pushed himself. That’s what caused him to wrench his hip in the first place. She’d have to make sure he didn’t overdo today.
The morning wind blew bitter, but it swept away a good deal of the dry snow. The sun came out and hinted at warmth it didn’t deliver. Still they managed to work on finishing the siding. Pa joined Emma’s team, holding boards in place for her as she pounded in the nails.
Since they’d started building last Friday, it had galled her that she needed to strike nails about six times to get them all the way in, while Jared gave them maybe three hard whacks. But somehow today she didn’t feel the same rancor she’d felt when they started this competition. Not about the nails. Not about Jared in general. Something had happened between them last night that sort of made up for their unhappy past, at least for her. Did he feel the same way? And if he did, would he do anything about it?
She made up her mind right then that if he proposed, she’d accept.
Chapter Five
That morning only a couple of men came to help, one for each team of workers. Jared, Cal and their helper finished putting up the boards on their sides by dinnertime. As Jared went through the motions of building, his thoughts stayed back in the kitchen, both last night and this morning.
He’d never felt so close to anyone as he had to Emma last night. She’d listened to his deepest secret and then let him t
ake her hand. All the bitterness she’d rightfully felt toward him these past two years seemed to be gone. Later, as he’d lain abed, he’d wondered whether he should forget his dream about having his own place in Colorado and take up courting her again. This time he wouldn’t back out. He’d see it through to the end. Then he’d offer to live with the Sharps and work this ranch. That would be an even better alternative to Colorado because he could live near his family without living with them. He cared for all of his brothers, but the older ones were awful bossy, while Mr. Sharp respected him. Working for him would be a sight easier than always having to answer to Rob.
Then this morning Mr. Sharp shocked them all with his invite to Cal. Jared was more than happy for his brother, yet if Jared courted Emma now, she might think it was so he’d get a share of the ranch. That would be worse than jilting her. He should have kissed her last night when he had the chance. Should have told her how he regretted his past actions but that he was a changed man. That he admired—well, tumbleweed, might as well admit it. He loved her. Would she believe him if he told her that now?
He’d been neglectful of praying about it, so he lifted a silent prayer for the Lord’s direction. As they began their work on the roof and interior, he waited and waited for an answer. The Lord seemed intent on teaching Jared to be patient, so he’d try to hurry up and learn.
*
“If we can’t go tonight, we have to go tomorrow night.” Emma glanced around the table over dinner. “We’ve never even seen a Las Posadas celebration. How will we know what to do when it’s our turn? That’s just three days away.”
“The barn’s almost finished,” Pa said. “I don’t see why you young folks can’t go. I’m sure you can finish it in the time you have left.”
“Oh, yes. Let’s go.” Julia gave Cal a sweet smile. “Can we go?”
“If you want to go, we can.” Cal’s smile mirrored Julia’s.
Emma’s sting of envy wasn’t as sharp as usual. She looked at Jared with expectation. “Want to go?”
“I thought we were going to work on the farolitos tomorrow evening.” A teasing look filled his eyes.
“We can do that tonight.” Emma did want to make the farolitos, the customary Las Posadas paper lanterns that would illuminate the path from the main road to their new barn. Ma had already bought paper bags and candles. All they needed to do was put a couple of inches of sand in the bags and secure the candles in the centers so the brown bags wouldn’t catch on fire, place them along the path and then light them before “Mary and Joseph” arrived. Jared seemed eager to help make them. Maybe if he enjoyed working alongside her enough, he’d want to do it more often. Maybe even for the rest of his life.
“I don’t know,” Jared said. “Tomorrow Cal and I have to put shingles on the roof. That might take well into the evening.”
“And Paco and I need to build the interior.” Emma wouldn’t let him off without a fight. “We’re gonna take a few hours off tomorrow evening to enjoy ourselves. That’s all there is to it.”
She could hear the bossiness in her own voice, and her conscience stung. That was the old Emma, not the new one who prayed every day that Jared would give voice to the tender feelings so obvious in his eyes when he looked her way. His interest in finishing the barn showed more than neighborly care; it showed his concern for her family’s well-being. Her well-being. That made her feel real good. Pa always protected Ma, and even though Emma had done a man’s work every day of her life, she still longed to have someone look out for her that way. So she quit her argument and gave him the platter of griddle cakes along with a sweet smile like Julia always gave Cal.
Jared smiled back. “I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to attend the celebration.”
“Before you get started on those shingles, would you help me plan out how wide the stalls should be and where I should put the tack room?”
She already knew all that, and she knew he knew she knew. So she expected a teasing answer, maybe something about wasting his time so she could get ahead. But somehow the competition had faded away over the past few days. Ever since they’d sat up that night with Mrs. Cat.
“Ma’am, I’d be happy to consult with you on the matter.” Jared waggled his eyebrows playfully.
Emma laughed. Actually, it was more like a giggle. Bother. She was starting to sound as girly as Julia. But somehow, she decided, that wasn’t a bad thing after all.
*
All day long the Lord stayed silent, not giving Jared any direction about courting Emma other than to remind him to love her as Christ loved the church. He did notice she’d altogether quit being prickly and sassy. He couldn’t say his actions brought about the changes, but he couldn’t say they hadn’t either. As to courting her, the Lord didn’t give word or wisdom on the matter, no matter how many memorized Bible verses Jared recalled or how much he prayed. Maybe it was God’s will for him to go to Colorado, after all. He’d have a hard time leaving Emma behind. A real hard time. Maybe Emma would agree to go with him.
That was it! The Lord’s answer. He wouldn’t try to horn in on Cal and Julia’s blessing of inheriting the ranch. Instead, he and Emma would strike out on their own. The idea excited him so much he came near to hammering his thumb instead of the nail he held against a wooden shake shingle.
He looked down to where she was trimming a board on the sawhorse. As always, she was hard at work. My, she was beautiful. How had she felt about her father’s invite to Cal the other morning? Was she pleased that her sister would still be living here? They got along real well, just like he and Cal. Maybe she wouldn’t want to leave with him so they could settle in their own place. Maybe her love for her family and for this particular piece of land would keep her here.
The only way to find out was to propose to her, but when? Did he need to wait until after Las Posadas? After Cal and Julia’s wedding? Just then, Emma glanced up at him and gave him that pretty smile of hers. One of Pop’s favorite sayings came to mind: “There’s no time like the present to get the job done.”
Jared set his hammer down, clambered down the ladder and strode over to her. Of course when she looked at him with those sky blue eyes, he got tongue-tied. All he could spit out was, “Nice day.”
“Sure is.” She looked back at her work and kept on sawing.
“It’s a good thing we didn’t get any more snow.”
“Uh-huh.” She paused and looked at him again, and his heart leaped clear up into his throat. “Did you come down here to say something? Like you’ve given up the competition ’cause you know I’m winning?” Her teasing smile held a world of good humor.
“Yes, ma’am. No, ma’am.”
Mr. Sharp chose that moment to come out of the barn with another board. The old man looked better every day, a tribute to everyone’s prayers and the hard work he’d been doing.
“Mr. Sharp, I want to marry Emma. I know I didn’t do right last time, and I made a bad mistake. Could you please forgive me and give me your permission to court her again?” Did that sound all right? Was that what he should say? Wait. Had he just said that out loud?
Mr. Sharp’s eyes widened. “Why, Jared, I wondered when you’d come around. Yes, you have my permission to court Emma.” He looked at her. “Is that all right with you, daughter?”
Emma stood still as a statue, her mouth hanging wide-open. Mr. Sharp reached over and lifted her chin. “Close your mouth, daughter, and answer the question.” He didn’t seem to notice his own contradiction, but his blue eyes twinkled.
Which made Jared feel mighty good because it meant Mr. Sharp wouldn’t mind having him for a son-in-law. That idea emboldened him more than he ever could have expected.
“Emma, will you go courting with me, or should we just go ahead and get married the same day as Cal and Julia?” If she hesitated to say yes, he’d tell her about Colorado and make sure she understood he loved her, not this ranch.
Tears began to stream down her cheeks, freezing in the wind against her bright pink skin. “I�
�d like that, Jared.”
Much relieved, he gave out a hearty laugh. “Which one? Courting or marrying?”
“Oh, you.” She set down her saw and smacked his arm.
“Ow!” Through his thick jacket it didn’t hurt in the least, but he hollered anyway. “If you’re gonna hit me like that, maybe I’ll change my mind.” Uh-oh. Shouldn’t have said that. ’Specially since he’d done it once and would never do it again.
She answered by snuggling under that same arm and squeezing him around his middle. “No, you won’t. I won’t let you.”
Her sassy smile tickled his insides, and he didn’t have any choice but to squeeze back, even with her father looking on.
“Let’s go tell Ma.” Emma stepped out of his arms, leaving him with an empty feeling. Now that he had her back, he couldn’t bear the thought of losing her again.
“Sure thing.” He gripped her hand, and they hurried across the barnyard toward the kitchen door. Behind them, Jared could hear Mr. Sharp’s slower, uneven footfalls on the cold ground.
The moment they stepped into the room, mouthwatering aromas of fresh-baked bread and stewed chicken swept over them. Jared’s belly rumbled in reply, and he and Emma shared a laugh. My, that felt good! He took off his hat to let the indoor heat warm him from the top down.
Then they saw Mrs. Sharp seated at the table, a letter in hand and tears running down her cheeks. Julia sat beside her chewing a thumbnail, a worried look on her face.
“Ma, what on earth?” Emma sat beside her mama and took her hand.
“What is it, Annie?” Mr. Sharp nudged Julia to another chair so he could sit on Mrs. Sharp’s other side and pull her into an embrace.
Jared watched with concern and a good measure of interest. A husband took care of his wife, something he’d have to do for Emma, even if she cried. Mr. Sharp set a good example.
Love Inspired Historical October 2015 Box Set Page 64
