Luke drank down his second cup of coffee as Jake recounted the last of his tale. “So what did Chicago Joe want with Annetta?”
“Netta wouldn’t give any details.”
“I reckon it’s a private matter between a doctor and her patient.”
“You got it.”
Luke nodded. More than an hour had passed, in which time Jake had made a fire in the hearth for some warmth. It seemed an irony, given the heat of the day. But at this time of year temperatures plummeted once the sun set. “So then what happened?”
“I saw her safely back to her office.”
Luke frowned. “But that all took maybe half a day. Where’d your afternoon go?”
“It went to giving explanations to passersby—and I’m talking most of Silverstone.”
“Ooh.” Luke winced.
Jake deciphered his expression. “Right. Tongues were waggin’ to be sure!” He sighed. “I took it upon myself to set the record straight.”
“Good for you.”
“So I didn’t get much work done.”
“Bad for me.”
Jake sent him a quick glare.
“Look, I want to marry Beth. Once she starts measuring the windows for curtains, she’ll be happy. Trust me.”
“You know what your problem is? You’re too self-confident, Luke.”
A retort formed, but before he could speak it, a knock sounded at the front door.
“More curious townsfolk,” Jake muttered as he strode across the cabin. Lifting the latch, he pulled the door open. Then he pulled back slightly. “Annetta.”
Luke stood, stepped into the shadows, and tucked his shirt back in.
“What brings you out this time of night?”
She stepped inside, and Luke spied the heavy basket she carried. Gentleman that he was, Jake quickly took it from her.
“One kind act deserves another,” she said rather crisply. “When you didn’t show up at the boardinghouse for supper—”
“Aw, I forgot.” Jake rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand.
“I asked Rosalinda to pack some food for you.”
“Mighty kind of you, Netta. Please come in.”
“No, I can’t stay.”
“Just for a few minutes.”
“Well…”
Luke observed the way Annetta gazed up at Jake, all starry-eyed. It could only mean one thing. Luke grinned. She was sweet on him.
Just as quickly, Luke wiped the smile off his face, although it was kind of funny how she hadn’t even noticed him yet.
“Annetta, I’m sorry.” Jake made quick strides to the table and set down the basket. “I lost track of the time.”
She jerked her chin.
“Forgive me.”
Luke lowered his head and swallowed a chuckle. It wasn’t every day he got to watch his older brother eat some humble pie.
“I’m glad you came by.” Jake took her elbow and urged her farther into the cabin.
And that’s when Annetta saw him. “Luke.” Her cheeks turned a pretty pink. “I–I didn’t see you standing there.”
“Good evening, Annetta.”
She gave him a smile before looking back at Jake.
“He’s the reason I didn’t meet you at the boardinghouse tonight.” He glanced at Luke with a glint of amusement in his eyes.
Luke wasn’t about to let Jake’s blunder go. “Oh, no, don’t you go blaming me for your forgetfulness.” He leaned toward Annetta. “I think he needs some sort of mental testing, Doctor.”
“Hmm, perhaps so.” Annetta folded her arms.
Chuckling, Jake poked around in the basket. “Smells good.”
“See how he flits from subject to subject?” Luke persisted with a laugh.
“Well, now, I do indeed.” Tipping her head, Annetta studied him like a specimen.
“All right, you two. I surrender.” Jake turned to Annetta. “On a serious note, please accept my apology for not meeting you at the boardinghouse this evening.”
“But note that it will happen again,” Luke interjected. “On account of his mental status.”
“Will you keep quiet?”
Luke swallowed a chuckle.
Jake narrowed his gaze. “Don’t you have something to do?”
“Not particularly.”
Annetta seemed to ignore the banter. “I told you I had something to give you, Jake.” She lifted a flask from the basket. “Just a few drops of this in a glass of water might ease the pain you have in your leg, assuming it keeps you up at night from time to time.”
“He’d never admit it,” Luke said in all honesty, “but that leg keeps him awake plenty of nights.”
Jake sent him a sharp glance.
“Then this should help.” She held the brown glass bottle out to him.
“I’m not a drinking man, Netta, but thanks all the same.”
“Oh, it’s not whiskey or anything of the sort.” Annetta smiled patiently. “It’s quinine.”
“Quinine?” Surprise lifted Jake’s features. “Isn’t that for malaria?”
“Yes, but some people find it’s an effective pain reliever. Try it.” Annetta dug into the basket and retrieved a jar of tea. “Here, we’ll mix it in with tea.” She opened the flask and expertly poured out only a few drops into the jar, before lifting it and swirling the liquid around. “All right.” She handed it to Jake. “Drink up.”
He hesitated, and Luke grinned. “You scared?”
“Scared of what?” After a quelling look in Luke’s direction, Jake opened the jar and swigged the tea down in about five gulps. Then he wiped the corners of his mouth with the cuff of his sleeve. “Reckon I was thirsty.” He suddenly winced. “Ugh, that was some of the bitterest tea I ever tasted.”
Luke stomped his booted foot and laughed at his brother’s expression.
Annetta smiled. “I’m afraid the quinine tastes terrible. But you did the right thing by swallowing it all at once.”
He shrugged, still wincing. “I was more thirsty than I realized.”
Annetta gazed at him. “Now we’ll just have to see if the quinine helps your leg.”
Jake pursed his mouth, looking none too impressed.
“Well, enjoy your meal.” Annetta pulled her shawl more tightly around her shoulders.
“You’re welcome to join us.”
“I can’t really, although…” Her gaze searched Jake’s. “I have a favor to ask of you.”
“Name it.” Jake set his hands on his hips.
“I need to ride out to the Jenkins’ place tomorrow. Calvin Jenkins was in town, buying supplies earlier, and left a message for me with the Winters, requesting that I come out to the ranch and bring some medicine for a persistent fever that his father’s had for more than a week. It’s nothing urgent. Tomorrow will be soon enough. But I can’t ride out there alone. I need a guide. Can you accompany me?”
“I’d like to, Netta, but I ride a circuit every Sunday while Luke does the preaching at our church here in Silverstone.”
“May I ride with you?”
Stunned, Luke’s hand paused in midair near the basket of food.
“You want to accompany me on the circuit?”
“Well, only if we can fit in a visit to the Jenkins’ place.”
“I imagine we could, although…” Jake grinned and shook his head. “I don’t think you’d find riding my circuit very exciting. Two church services and a hard ride in between ’em. Besides, you’d have to suffer through my preaching twice—same message too.”
“I suppose that won’t kill me.” A glimmer of amusement lit her gaze. “And I can assure you I’ll keep up. I’m not a bad horsewoman.”
Luke rubbed the side of jaw, hiding his amusement and trying to guess how Jake would respond next.
Jake took several moments to think it over. “Well, it’s fine by me. But I leave at dawn.”
“I’ll be ready.” Annetta smiled and gave Jake another of those starry-eyed looks.
Mmm-h
mm, she’s sweet on him, all right. Luke chuckled under his breath.
“I’ll bring the horses around and meet you in front of your clinic.”
Luke glanced at his brother. And the way Jake looked back at her made him think Jake might be sweet on her too.
Annetta left and Jake watched her go for several long minutes. Then he closed the front door of the cabin, latching it securely.
“You know what you just did?” Luke sent him a look as he unpacked the basket. His stomach rumbled in hunger at the smell of enchiladas and salad. “You just agreed to let a woman ride the circuit with you tomorrow.”
“I reckon I did—but for a good cause. Ol’ Mr. Jenkins is ill again.” He sauntered over to the table and lifted the jar from which he’d drunk the tea.
“Annetta could find another respectable man to accompany her to the Jenkins’ ranch.”
“I know.” A speculative light entered his gaze “Must’ve been that potion she gave me.”
Luke replied with a hearty laugh. “Must’ve been.” However, he knew better.
EIGHTEEN
THE AIR WAS STILL, THE STREET QUIET. ONLY BETHANY’S booted heels thumped along the boardwalk. Very typical for a Sunday morning in Silverstone. The south side of the street hadn’t yet awakened from all their carrying-on last night. Bethany sent a glance that way and hoped Angie was all right. She felt burdened for her and prayed that soon Angie would somehow escape from a lifestyle of prostitution and abuse.
Gravel crunched as a carriage rolled up the street. Bethany looked to see the Phillips family. They waved as they passed. Bethany quickened her steps so she wouldn’t be late.
Self-consciousness gave her stomach a tweak with each step she took. Last night Mrs. Winters had caught sight of how long Bethany’s hair had grown, and for whatever reason, Bethany allowed her to trim several inches off the bottom. But the trim turned into a noticeable cut!
At first Bethany felt ill when she glimpsed her hair, now only as long as her shoulder blades. While still in shock, she allowed Mrs. Winters to roll her hair, and this morning Trudy persuaded her to wear curled tendrils around her face. The back was pinned up in a loose chignon.
“You’re beautiful!” Trudy had exclaimed with a gasp.
Was that surprise?
But it was true. The looking glass didn’t lie. Bethany actually looked…pretty.
She fingered a curl hanging loosely below her bonnet. What would Luke think? Papa hadn’t liked it when she tried to wear her hair like other young ladies, curled and hanging freely. Perhaps if she had, she wouldn’t fit his description of her. Plain as a field mouse.
She pressed her lips together in an angry frown. If he hadn’t worked her like a farmhand, and if she’d been allowed to eat a supper without one of her younger siblings interrupting with a demand that needed attention…and if he’d given permission for her to wear her hair down, then maybe…
Bethany shook herself and drew in a deep, cleansing breath. She’d do better not to think about Papa as she walked into church.
She climbed the few stairs that led into a narrow vestibule. Wooden pegs lined one wall for coats. Bethany wondered if people in Silverstone ever used wraps enough to have to hang them up. It was shaping up to be another hot, sunny day.
As she walked up the aisle she greeted the Thomas family then Mr. and Mrs. Stack before claiming a place on the front row bench. The Mendez family sat beside her, and little Augustina leaned forward and gave her a vigorous wave. The seven-year-old attended school, and Bethany couldn’t help but feel fond of her. Intelligence pooled in those deep brown eyes; Augustina loved to learn new things. Smiling at her now, Bethany lifted a gloved hand in greeting.
Mr. Winters soon made his way to the altar and led the congregation in singing “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.” Several attendees didn’t know the Isaac Watts hymn, but Bethany could hear Augustina singing it out loudly. Bethany had taught it to the children in school.
Luke had been sitting off to the side and now strode to the podium, which Jake had built. It wasn’t fancy, but Bethany had always admired its solid craftsmanship.
Then suddenly Luke’s gaze met Bethany’s. She held her breath. Would he notice the curls framing her face?
He gave her what appeared to be an affectionate smile before flipping open his Bible.
Bethany exhaled in relief. But then again, she may not look so different with her bonnet still covering her head.
“I’d like to begin by reading the Scriptures.”
Bethany stood, as did the rest of the congregation.
“St. Matthew chapter twenty-two, verses thirty-seven through thirty-nine.” Luke cleared his throat. “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” He paused. “Let me ask y’all. Do you love yourselves?” He grinned. “Oh, now, I don’t mean love yourself like someone vain, who thinks he’s the handsomest thing that ever walked the earth. And not like a one who believes he’s above reproach. I mean love…as in respect of ourselves. All humans are created in the image of God. What’s not to respect?”
Bethany dropped her gaze and stared at her folded hands. She continued to listen intently.
“And if we respect ourselves, we’re going to respect our neighbors, aren’t we? Our neighbors include folks of all skin colors. That means we’re not liable to draw on a man if he ain’t armed,” Luke drawled. “We’re not liable to stir up trouble just because we can, and we’re not about to shred someone’s character just for the sake of spreading a little gossip.”
In her peripheral view, Bethany glimpsed a heavy-set woman shifting uncomfortably.
Then Luke went on to say that if men and women loved themselves as God loved them, there’d be less hatred in the world.
“So let’s leave here this morning with a little more love for ourselves and for one another, shall we?” Luke smiled. “Let’s pray…Mr. Watson? Please stand and close our service.”
As the gentleman prayed, Bethany glimpsed Luke making his way down the aisle to personally greet his small congregation as they left the church. At the final “Amen,” people filed out into the center aisle. Since Bethany sat in the front bench, she was one of the last to go.
“Will you look at that?” Mrs. Mendez took hold of Bethany’s arm. “Why, that family…up against the back wall. How rude!”
Bethany followed the rotund, dark-haired woman’s gaze and saw the Jonas family fast asleep. She inched forward, getting a closer look, and noticed that Mr. Jonas had shaved his beard. His shaggy light brown hair looked washed, his clothes were clean, and his children looked sufficiently bathed as well.
Then she saw little Michael, slipping ever so slowly out of Lacey’s grasp. She apologetically brushed passed Mrs. Mendez and gently lifted the baby from out of his sister’s tentative hold. Lacey opened her eyes, smiled at Bethany, and closed them again.
“That baby kept us up all night,” she murmured drowsily.
“Well, it’s all right. I’ve got him now.” Bethany gazed at the child, sleeping in her arms, and again that strange feeling came over her. She found herself actually wishing Michael belonged to her.
In fact, she wished all these children were hers.
She peeked at Mr. Jonas from beneath lowered lashes. But that would mean marrying their father.
No! No! No!
Same as yesterday, the thought of becoming Mrs. Ralph Jonas left an indescribable hollowness inside of Bethany. But when she gazed at Luke, standing so tall and confident near the doorway now, a multitude of different emotions assailed her…
Like love.
“Sorry, baby,” she whispered, kissing Michael’s cheek, “I can’t be your mama.” She gazed at him, noting the soft lashes fluttering against pale cheeks, the perfectly tiny nose, and the wet rosebud lips. She decided Luke had been right. She was being overly emoti
onal, although this boy had certainly captured a part of her heart.
Bethany held him until the last of the church members had exited. Once they’d gone, Luke made his way back up the aisle to her, and she handed off the baby to Lacey.
Luke reached her and smiled.
She smiled back.
“You look right pretty today, Beth.”
Bethany felt her cheeks warm. “Not now, Luke.” Her gaze flitted to Lacey before she looked back at him.
Donning a more serious expression, he turned his attention to the dozing Jonas clan. He shook his head. “It’s a sad thing to see what my preaching does to some folks.”
Bethany smiled. “Yes, well, you’ll be pleased to know your message didn’t put me to sleep.”
“Why, thank you, Beth.” His gaze met hers, and tenderness pooled in his eyes. “We’ve been invited to the Raddisons’ for noon dinner. What do you suppose we ought to do with Ralph and his kids?”
Before Bethany could reply, little Jeb opened an eye. “Dinner? I’m sure hungry.” He stretched like a cub.
Jesse was the next to awaken. “Is service over? Oh…hello, Reverend Luke.”
Luke nodded a greeting, and Bethany could tell he was trying to hide his amusement.
“Pa, wake up. Church meetin’ is over.”
At Jesse’s prompting, Mr. Jonas roused and muttered a series of apologies. Then he awakened the rest of his children. Standing, he turned his attention to Bethany. She averted her eyes, not wanting to meet his probing gaze.
“All’s forgiven, Jonas,” Luke said. “Why don’t you take your family to the boardinghouse for a noon dinner?”
“I ain’t got money for that.”
“Jake and I will take care of the tab.” Luke held up a hand to forestall an argument. “Meanwhile, there are plenty of women at the Winterses’ place to help with the little ones. You and your family could obviously use the respite.”
“Reckon that’s all right.” Mr. Jonas grumbled the reply. “Will you be comin’ too, Miss Stafford?”
“No, I’m afraid not.” She glanced at Luke. The muscle in his jaw worked as he set his hands on his hips.
“That’s a shame. I know my young’uns will be sorry you’re not at the table with them.”
An Undaunted Faith Page 18
