Groom Wanted

Squeaking hinges caught her attention. She turned to find Michael stepping inside the house.

“Is she still asleep? Are the twins okay?”

She barely heard his questions his voice was so low.

“Yes. They’re fine.” She, too, kept her voice down.

“Good.” He nodded. “Leah, would you mind doing me a favor?” He looked away and then back at her. “Oh. Thanks for doing the dishes and picking up the place. I really appreciate it. I hadn’t gotten to that yet.”

“You’re welcome, Michael. That’s what sisters are for.” She smiled. “Now, what did you want?”

“We have a cow that’s down and needs doctoring. Everyone else is busy and Jake will need my help. Would you mind staying here with Selina a bit longer? I don’t want to leave her alone.” He ran his hand over his face. “Man, I wish I didn’t have to help. I hate leaving Selina. But Jake can’t do it alone and no one else is around.”

Leah laid her hand on his arm. “I can stay with her. She and the twins will be just fine.”

Worry crowded his face. It was happening a lot these days.

“Michael.” She turned and gave him a push toward the door. “Go. They’ll be fine. Selina’s a strong woman.”

“She is, isn’t she?” Pride puffed out his chest.

“Yes. Now go. I’ll wait until you get back.”

“If you need anything—”

“Michael, she’ll be fine.” This time, Leah pushed him out the door.

“I’ll be back in about an hour.”

“I’ll be here.”

She watched Michael leave, then shut the door.

With Selina and the babies still sound asleep, Leah searched her brother’s cellar and pantry and made a pot of stew and some biscuits.

Nearly an hour later, Leah heard a baby cry. She headed over to the bedroom, slowly opened the door and peered inside. Lottie Lynn’s little arms were moving in short, choppy movements. A wail came from Joseph’s bed and his arms and legs imitated his sister’s. Leah scurried inside, not knowing which one to reach for first.

“They sure have mighty good lungs,” Selina said with a voice filled with sleep.

She started to rise, but Leah shot up her hand. “You stay there. I’ll bring them to you.”

“I ain’t helpless. I can get them.”

“I know you’re not. But Michael would have my hide if he knew I let you get out of that bed.”

Selina rolled her sleepy eyes. “Such fussin’ that man does over me. I can do it.”

“Please, Selina. You stay there. Let me do this for you,” Leah said over the wails of the twins. She picked up Lottie Lynn, who stopped crying instantly. Leah hugged the baby girl to her chest. Someday she hoped to have a houseful of her own children. Her thoughts went to the letter still in her pocket, the one destined to be mailed today. Maybe that someday wasn’t too far off.

She changed the baby’s diaper and handed her to Selina who was now sitting propped against the pillows, looking more tired than Leah had ever seen her. No wonder Michael seemed so worried. She made a mental note to tell her mother that despite Michael’s protest, they needed to come and help Selina...and Michael.

“Thank ya kindly, Leah.”

“You’re welcome.”

Joey’s loud wail pierced the air. Leah scuttled over to his crib and, securing his head, lifted him out. Muddy diaper odor stung Leah’s nose with its potency. Ewwww. She wrinkled her nose and blinked her eyes.

“Sweet twinkling stars above. You need changing, little man,” she cooed to him as she walked over to the changing table Michael had made. She laid him on the wooden slab with the feather-filled flannel quilt on top and changed her nephew’s diaper. His crying stopped. She picked him up, kissed his cheek and turned toward Selina. A light blanket covered Lottie Lynn’s head while she nursed.

“Do you want me to leave and you can holler when you’re finished?”

“No. It don’t bother me none. Unless you’re uncomfortable.”

She shook her head, sat down in the rocking chair next to the bed and rocked Joey.

Leah knew it was time to make the announcement. She let out a long breath to settle the butterflies flitting about in her stomach. “Well, I finally did it.”

Busy with the baby, Selina hardly looked up. “Did what?”

“I placed an advertisement for a husband. And I’ve already received several answers.”

Selina’s eyes went wide as they jerked up, and her brows puckered. “Does your family know?”

“No.”

“They ain’t gonna like it. You goin’ off to who knows where.”

Leah found that weird coming from Selina, who had traveled across the country to be with Michael.

“I know what you’re a-thinkin’. I did it. And I personally see nothin’ wrong with it. But your family is mighty protective of you.”

“I know they are. But...” She handed Joey to Selina and took the newly fed Lottie Lynn from her mother. With a cloth draped over her shoulder Leah patted her niece on the back until a loud burp echoed in the room. Selina and Leah giggled.

Selina settled Joey and then turned her attention back to Leah. “But what?”

“But, I don’t think they’ll have a problem with it once I tell him that Fitzwilliam will be coming here, and I won’t be traveling alone.”

“Fitzwilliam? Ain’t that an interestin’ name. Never heard it before.”

“I love his name. And—” she shifted Lottie Lynn and cradled her closer “—I really believe God is in this.”

“Why’s that?”

“Well, ever since reading Pride and Prejudice I’ve prayed for a man like Mr. Darcy. In the book, Mr. Darcy’s first name is Fitzwilliam.”

“Oh. I see.” She waved her head back and forth, confusion flooding her face. “No, I don’t see. What’s that gotta do with anythin’?”

“It’s simple, really. I’ve been praying for a man like Mr. Darcy. Then I get a letter from a man with Mr. Darcy’s first name. And he lives in New York City.” Oops. She shouldn’t have said that. Leah didn’t want Selina asking her why that was important, so she rushed on before she could. “You see, these are all signs.”

“Signs?”

“Yes. From God.”

“Leah, it ain’t none-a my business—”

“What isn’t any of your business, sweetheart?” Michael interrupted Selina as he stepped into the room.

Leah’s gaze flew to Selina. With her eyes only, she begged Selina not to tell him.

Her brother strode into the room and kissed Selina, then took Lottie Lynn from Leah. “So, how are my favorite people in the whole world doing?” Michael sat on the bed next to Selina.

“Oh, I didn’t know you thought of me as one of your favorite people. I’m honored, and I’m doing great,” Leah teased her brother.

“Very funny. Ha-ha. I wasn’t asking you.”

“Really? Could have fooled me,” she teased him again.

Michael turned to his family.

Whew. Thank You, Lord. Michael’s forgotten all about his question. Leah stood. “It looks like you don’t need me anymore, so I’ll be on my way. There’s stew on the stove and biscuits in the warmer.”

Michael glanced over at her. “Thank you, Leah. I appreciate your help.” He turned back to Selina.

“Thank ya kindly, Leah.” Selina peered around him. Then, as if she weren’t even there, her brother and his wife started talking. They were so adorable to watch. Leah silently prayed for a marriage like theirs, like the marriages of all her siblings and her parents. Out of the house she bounded with a spring in her step. Time to ready her horse and head into town to mail the letter that might very well give her the future she desired.

* * *

Jake finished mucking the stalls. Rivulets of sweat streamed from underneath his cowboy hat. From his back pocket, he pulled out a handkerchief that had definitely seen better days.

“You need a new one of those.” Leah stepped in front of him, and what a beautiful sight she was.

He looked at the holes in his kerchief. “Sure do.”

“I’ll make you some.”

“You don’t need to do that.”

“I know I don’t need to, silly. I want to.”

It was hard for Jake to accept charity—always had been. He hated feeling less than in front of anyone. Feeling that way in front of Leah was even worse. “Only if I pay for them.”

Leah planted her hands on her slender hips. “No. You will not pay me for them.”

“Won’t take them then.” He crossed his arms over his chest and stood his ground.

Her eyes trailed the length of him. For some odd reason, he hoped she liked what she saw. “You think that stance is going to stop me? Well, it won’t. Besides, you have a birthday coming up and you can’t refuse a birthday gift from a friend. It would be rude.”

She got him there. He picked up the shovel again and changed the subject. “How are Selina and the twins doing?”

“Great. They’re so cute. You should see them.”

“I’ll give Selina a few more days to recuperate before I do. Besides, don’t think Michael’s gonna let anyone near her for a few days.”

They laughed.

“He sure is protective of them, isn’t he?” Leah said through a giggle.

“I would be, too.”

“I bet you would. You’ll make a fine father someday.” As she realized what she’d said, her face turned a deep shade of red. She spun and headed toward the tack room.

Jake followed her. “What you doing?”

“I’m going to get Lambie ready so I can head into town to mail my letter.” She kept her back to him and reached for a halter.

His heart felt as if it had been thrown from a bucking bronc, but he reached for the tack just the same. “Here. Let me do that.”

She turned to him and her smile was filled with gratitude. “I can get her. But thanks anyway.”

Jake gently tugged the halter from her grasp. “How about you let me help—or no handkerchiefs?” He grinned down at her.

She tilted her head and gazed up at him with those big blue eyes. “Okay. You win. But—” she held out her hand “—only if you promise me you will accept my gift.”

Jake glanced down at her hand. “Deal.” He accepted her handshake. Her hand felt small in his larger one. Soft, too, except for the few calluses he felt.

“Um, Jake.” Leah glanced down at her hand. “You can let go now.”

His attention drifted to her face and then to where their hands were still joined. “Oh, right.” He dropped her hand as if it were on fire and felt heat rush up his neck and into his face. He couldn’t believe it. He was blushing. Blushing. Like a woman.

Embarrassed, he spun on the heel of his boot and strode to her horse’s stall. “How you doing, girl?” he asked, slipping the lead rope around Lambie’s neck and then the halter on her head. Jake led the mare from her stall over to where Leah stood by the phaeton.

While they worked together to hitch up her horse Jake asked, “Lambie’s a weird name for a horse, ain’t it?”

“Yes. Abby named her.”

“Did she name Kitty, too?” He referred to the pet pig with the huge personality.

“Yes. When she was younger she wanted to name all the animals. My brothers didn’t have the heart to refuse her. They’re sorry for it now.” She laughed.

“Why’s that?”

“Well, we have a horse named Lambie and one named Raven. Kitty the pig.” She ticked each one off her fingers as she mentioned them. “Miss Piggy, the cat.” She paused. “Oh and there was Taxt, one of our bulls.”

“She named a bull Taxt?”

Leah laughed again. “Everyone asks that. And the answer is yes, she did.”

“Poor bull.”

Leah’s giggle at his comment pulled a chuckle out of him. Ever since they’d become friends, he’d found himself laughing more and more. It felt good. Real good in fact.

“There. All finished.”

“Thank you, Jake, for helping me.”

“Welcome. Anytime.”

She grabbed the lines under the horse’s chin and tugged on them. Jake hurried ahead and opened the double doors.

Outside the sun had knocked the midmorning chill out of the air.

Leah looked up at the sky and all around. “It’s sure a lovely day today.”

Jake shifted his focus from her sleek, graceful neck and placed it upward, glad his hat shielded the bright sun from reaching his eyes. “Sure is.”

“Well...” Her eyes collided with his. “I’d better go now. Mother wants me to pick up a few things for her, and I need to mail my letter.” Her face brightened at that, and his outlook dimmed.

Pushing his own stupid feelings aside, he offered her a hand into the buggy, even though he really didn’t want to aid her reason for going. “Mind picking up my mail while you’re there?”

“No. I’d be happy to.” She sat down and faced him.

“Leah.” He gathered the lines but didn’t hand them to her. “You sure you wanna do this?”

“Do what? Go to town? I have to. Mother needs—”

“No,” he interrupted her, unable to keep the frustration from his voice. “Answer that man’s ad.”

“Of course I’m sure. Otherwise I wouldn’t be doing it.”

“How can you be so certain?”

Her eyes brushed over his face as if she were contemplating her answer. She looked away and then her attention settled on him. “For years I prayed for a man like my father and Mr. Darcy.”

“Mr. Darcy? Who’s that?”

Her eyelids lowered to her lap.

Jake watched as she nervously tugged on her fingertips. In a bold move, he reached for her hands and held on to them. “Leah, look at me.”

Slowly, she raised her head toward him. “We’re friends. You can tell me who Mr. Darcy is.” Jake wondered if Mr. Darcy was the man who had just bought the livery stable. He couldn’t remember the man’s name, only that it started with a D.

“Promise you won’t laugh?”

“Promise.” He hiked his foot up, set it on the phaeton step and rested his forearm on his leg, waiting for her answer.

“Mr. Darcy is the hero in Pride and Prejudice.”

“What’s that?”

“A novel.”

Jake forced his eyes not to bounce wide open. A novel? She wanted a man like some imaginable character out of a book? Whoa! He hadn’t seen that one coming. Right now, laughing was the furthest thing from his mind.

“I know it sounds silly. But the man reminds me so much of my father.”

“So this Mr. Darcy is a rancher?”

She shook her head and her bouncy curls wiggled with the motion. He longed to wrap his finger around one of them, just to see if they were as soft as they looked. “No. He’s not a rancher. He reminds me of my father—before we moved here, that is.” She clamped her lips together tightly.

Jake thought he saw a shimmer in her eyes but wasn’t sure because she looked away. He placed his foot back onto the ground, not sure what to say or do.

Seconds ticked by. With a slow turn of her head, she dropped her attention onto him. “I’d better go, Jake. I have lots of errands to run.”

That was it. No explanation. He scanned her face. Though she tried to smile, he could see in her eyes that she was upset. He hated to see her leave like this, but he didn’t know what to say or do to make it better because he didn’t even know what was wrong.

She reached for the lines. Reluctantly, Jake laid them in her hand when what he really wanted to do was snatch them back and ask her what was wrong. But he didn’t. She said she needed to go, and he needed to respect that. He stepped back, out of her way. “Be careful.”

“I will. Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For helping me with my horse and for not laughing at me.”

“Nothing to laugh at.” His grin was meant to reassure her.

She nodded and flicked the lines. Jake watched the buggy pull out of the yard. Curious about what type of person this Mr. Darcy fellow was, he decided that he needed to purchase a copy of that book. What was it called? Oh, yes. Pride and Prejudice. The title alone made him nervous. He’d never been much of a reader in school, but this was important. He could only imagine what was stuck in between the pages and who this Mr. Darcy fellow was. The sooner he found out, the better.

Chapter Five

Leah couldn’t believe she’d almost slipped. Telling Jake about wanting a man like her dad was bad enough, but she’d almost started to tell him why. Good thing she’d caught herself.

Two hours later, after running all of her errands, she headed for home. Seven letters had come for her and sixteen for Jake. She looked at the large bundle of Jake’s posts, and without warning or understanding, jealousy snipped at her. Why, she didn’t know. She wanted her friend to be happy. And if one of the women in those letters would make that happen, she’d be happy, too.

A light breeze swept by her and over the field of blooming camas. The purple flowers waved as the gentle wind drifted over them. Spring was her favorite time of the year. It meant winter was coming to an end and new life, new growth and new births were being ushered in.

From afar, she noticed Jake out in the field tending to the cattle and grinned. He had a way of making her smile. Another click of the lines, and she coaxed Lambie into a fast trot.

Jake spotted her, swung into his saddle and headed toward her. Her heart picked up as he neared. That happened a lot lately.

“Howdy-do.” Jake pulled his horse up alongside her buggy and rode next to her.

“Howdy-do yourself.” She pulled her horse to a stop and raised her hand to block out the sun as she gazed up at him.

Jake moved his horse until he blocked the sun from shining in her eyes. “Did you have a pleasant trip?” He thumbed the brim of his hat upward, and she got a clear look at his tabby-gray eyes.

“I sure did.” It was even more pleasurable now that her best friend was here. “How’d your day go? Did my brothers work you too hard?”

“Naw. I’m used to hard work. Think they went easy on me today, though.” There was that lazy grin she enjoyed.

“Why’s that?”

“’Cause. Didn’t do much.” He leaned over and rested his arm on his saddle horn and gazed down at her. His horse shifted and stomped its leg, trying to get rid of a pesky horsefly. Jake didn’t even flinch but remained relaxed.

Leah envied how relaxed he always was, whereas she was always restless and fidgety inside and out. Oh, to have his peace. Someday. Someday soon, she encouraged herself. “What all did you do?”

“Milked the cows. Doctored a few heifers. Cleaned the barn. Checked to make sure the pigs were all okay. That was it. I’m done for the day already.”

“Already?”

“Yep.”

“Sweet twinkling stars above. They really did go easy on you.” She grinned and nearly laughed outright.

He chuckled. “Yep. Told you they did.” Jake sat up straight. “Before I forget, did I have any mail?”

“Oh. Um. Yes. You did. Quite a bit, actually.” She moved her reticule, grabbed the tied bundle of his mail and handed it to him.

“You weren’t kidding.” He took the generous bundle from her and turned it around.

“Sixteen, to be exact.”

His attention drifted to her. “Sixteen, huh?” A knowing smirk accompanied his question.

Heat rushed to Leah’s face. She wished she could blame it on the warm sun, but the sun had been there for hours, and her red face hadn’t. She dipped her head and only let her eyes look up at him. “Yes. Sixteen.”

There was that chuckle again. “How many you get?”

“Seven.” She raised her chin, hoping her face was no longer red.

“You busy now? I mean, after you take your supplies home.”

“No. Why?”

“Well, was wondering if you’d help me go through these.” He raised the package of letters.

“Sure. You want to go through them now?”

“You mean right here?”

“Yes.”

“What about your supplies?”

“They’ll be fine. Besides, I got done earlier than I thought. Mother won’t be expecting me home for another hour or so. We could...” She looked around and pointed to the trees. “We could go sit on that rock over there in the shade?”

Jake followed her line of view. “Works for me.”

He dismounted, gathered both reins under his gelding’s neck, and wrapped them around the saddle horn and let go.

“Won’t he leave?” Leah asked, referring to his dun-colored horse.

“Nope. Dun’s trained not to go far when his reins are tied to the saddle. We do this all the time.”

“Our horses are trained to stand still when the reins are down, but I’ve never seen anyone do it like that before.”

“Yeah, well, I’m different.”

“That’s for sure.” A smile lit up her face.

It must have been lost on Jake because he whipped his head in her direction and his tone sounded defensive. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Oh. I see how that must have sounded, but I meant that as a compliment. Truly. That’s one of the things I like about you, Jake. You do things differently than most folks.”

“Like what?” His forehead wrinkled as he tied off the lines on her carriage.

“Well, for one, you keep that silly goat and put up with her silly antics when no one else would.”

“Yep. I do. ’Cause I know if I gave that little escape artist to someone else they would probably destroy her. That’s why I keep her.”

“Exactly. They would have put her down. And so you put up with all the trouble she causes rather than risk someone else destroying her.” Leah watched as he shrugged off her compliment. “You’re a softy when it comes to animals, Jake. That’s one of the things I admire about you. And another thing you do differently is... You asked another woman to help you pick out a wife. I don’t know anyone who’s ever done that. Do you?” She danced her eyebrows up at him and sent him a smirch of a smile.

“Got me there.” His lazy grin appeared. “Speaking of. We’d best get to it so we can get ready for Phoebe’s wedding.” Jake slipped the tied bundle of letters from her hand.

Under the clear blue sky the knee-high bunchgrass rustled as they walked through it side by side until they reached a large flat-topped boulder and sat down.

“Okay. What do we have here this time?” Leah pointed to the letters Jake held.

He untied the string and handed her the first one. Leah opened it and scrunched her face.

Jake leaned toward her. His breath brushed the hair near her ear, sending chills rushing up and down her back. Not understanding why that would happen, she turned her head, and her face was inches from his. Her gaze soared to his gray eyes. Eyes that searched hers, questioning hers, as her eyes did his.

A moment passed in which neither moved.

Then Jake pulled back, cleared his throat and looked straight ahead. Leah, realizing she hadn’t been breathing, drew in a long, quiet breath, wondering why her insides were suddenly fluttering.

* * *

Jake willed his heartbeat to return to normal. The urge to kiss his friend just now was so strong that he’d almost given in to it. Nothing good would have come from it, of that he was certain. And he would do nothing to risk his friendship with her.

No one understood him like she did.

No one accepted him just as he was like she did.

And no one filled his thoughts more than she did.

And therein lay the danger.

She was leaving soon.

It was time for him to find a wife. He looked back at her. “Well. Let’s get to it.”

Leah tilted her head. “Get to what?” Confusion infused her face.

Did she know he had been about to kiss her? If so, is that what she thought he meant? “The letters. Get to the letters.”

“Oh. Yes. Oh, um. Right. The letters.” Her attention dropped to the post in her hand. “I think we have to forget this one.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because.” She placed it under his view. “I can’t even read it.”

He squinted, trying to make out the sloppy cursive. He could make out only a few words. Saloon. Toothless. And ten babies. “Whoa!” He balled the letter up faster than he could say the word no.

“What?” Leah glanced at the wad in his hands.

“You don’t wanna know.”

“Well, now you’ve got me curious. Tell me?”

Reluctantly, he un-balled the letter and smoothed the wrinkles as best as he could. Heat drifted up the back of his neck as he pointed to each of the three words.