A Run for Love (15 page)

“Good. I’m hungry, too, let’s give it a try.”

Tori studied the restaurant while waiting for a table. The China Palace, Guthrie’s first Chinese restaurant, had opened a few weeks before. Green and deep blue beaded curtains divided the room into sections. Paintings of dragons breathing fire, lotus flowers, and pagodas adorned two walls. A soothing light green paint on the other two walls completed the decor. Oriental men dressed in suits hurried from the kitchen to tables, carrying fragrant bowls and plates of food.

They shared an order of chow mein and a pot of steaming aromatic tea. Jesse taught her how to hold chop sticks, which she set carefully aside after a gob of noodles landed in her lap.

“Where did you learn to use chopsticks?” Tori waved her hand over the diminutive china cup of hot tea.

“Darlin’, I’m a man of many talents. I can do countless interesting things with these hands.”

His hooded eyelids and the underlying meaning of his words shot straight to her core.

His large hand snapped a handmade fortune cookie in half, then he pulled out the little piece of paper. After a minute, he handed it to her.

The wise man never surrenders.
Humph. With a certain amount of reluctance, Tori opened hers.
Things are not always as they seem.
Was God trying to send her a message? Certainly a strange way for the Almighty to act.

“Let me see.” Jesse held out his hand.

“No,” Tori said, pulling the paper back, then dropping it in her lap.

“Come on, I showed you mine,” he said with a crooked smile.

He’d done it again. The look that made his words seem like something else. At this rate, she’d be jumping across the table at him. “This is silly. I don’t believe these things anyway.”

“Then show it to me if it doesn’t matter.”

Tori tossed the paper to him. He glanced at the words and raised one eyebrow. “Sometimes words of wisdom come from the strangest places.”

She sniffed. “I prefer to get my words of wisdom from the Good Book.”

“Honey, you always bring a smile to my face.” He stood and reached out his hand to her.

Jesse twined his fingers with hers as they strolled home. An elusive sense of well-being surrounded her, like the sun just emerging from behind a cloud.
This courtin’ idea may be a good one after all.

A gentle touch of his hand stopped her from opening the front door. The darkness hid them, his face barely visible despite their closeness. “I saw a little bit of your old spirit tonight.”

“Oh really?” She lifted her chin a bit. “When?”

“Right now, darlin’. You’re lifting your cute little chin and glaring at me from behind those spectacles.” He ran his knuckles down her cheek.

“Jesse Cochran, you can’t see my eyes in the dark.”

He put his hands on her shoulders. “Maybe I can’t see, but I can feel.” His voice lowered. “How about a goodnight kiss?”

The air sizzled. Tori’s heart raced and all of a sudden she couldn’t seem to get enough air. Jesse took her face in his hands, kissed her, barely touching her lips. Pulling away, he stared in her eyes. A low growl sprang from his chest and he kissed her again, this time teasing her mouth until she opened.

He wrapped her in a firm hug and pulled her closer. His arousal pressed into her and, combined with his deep kisses, her knees turned to water. She held onto his jacket to keep from sliding to the ground in a heap. Jesse slanted his head in the other direction, and moved his hand until he caressed her backside. Tori moaned, and her arms encircled his neck. She ran her fingers through the silky strands of the hair hanging over his collar.

“Darlin’, come home with me. I really want you. I know you feel it. I know you want me, too.” He whispered in her ear, running his tongue around the soft shell.

“Can’t.” Tori gasped, kissing his chin. There was a reason, but for the moment she couldn’t recall.

Jesse trailed light kisses on her cheek, earlobe, and neck. Tori leaned her head back to give him better access.

“Come on, honey, let’s go next door.” His fingers worked the buttons on her coat, then cupped her breast, rubbing the peak with his thumb. Tori’s spectacles fogged, and she broke into a sweat.

“Tori, please, I need you so much.” He mumbled, kissing his way down her neck to her shoulder, edging the collar aside with his mouth.

An image of herself doubled over at the church social flashed in her mind. The pain, the wetness between her legs. The horror of that night crashed down.

Gulping air, she pushed Jesse back. “No. I can’t do this, Jesse. Please. I c-c-can’t do this.” She turned and fumbled with the doorknob. Finally inside, she leaned her back against the door, and jammed her fist to her mouth to smother a sob. Broken and torn with mixed emotions, she slid to the floor.

Jesse stared stupidly at the spot Tori had stood a moment ago. He dragged his hand down his face and attempted to restore his breathing to normal. Shoulders slumped, he walked next door and let himself into the house. His body ached with pent-up desire.

He’d pushed her too much, too soon. All color had leeched from her face when she skittered into the house. It’d finally sunk in like a lump of ice. His wife wasn’t joking. She was scared to death. He yanked off his jacket and loosened his tie. The cool air against his sweat-soaked shirt raised goose bumps across his body. He collapsed on the bed they used to share and closed his eyes. Her fear was too real, too frightening to witness.

Will she ever be herself again? How much time needs to pass?

He rose on his elbows and punched the pillow under his head, but it didn’t help his frustration, or divert his attention from the constant erection he carried around with him.

I wonder if my brain will wither and die from a lack of blood.

He blew out a deep breath and sat on the side of the bed, resting his forearms on bent knees. Maybe he could distract himself and get some work done. He wandered to his office, where the furniture sat in shrouded gloom. Not bothering to light a lamp, he settled in the large leather chair, enjoying the darkness and silence that mirrored his mood.

He needed a plan. Plans had always kept him from dwelling too much on the worst parts of his life. He let out a sigh and rummaged around in the bottom drawer of his desk. A full bottle of brandy and a small glass stared back at him. He slammed the drawer shut and left the room.

The sun shone brightly as Tori closed her front door and headed to Marian Boyd’s house, the seamstress working on the drapes for Jesse’s bedroom. She’d finally decided on a beige watered silk fabric, and they were promised for today. She smiled at the lovely day. The warmth from the late winter sun heated her skin, right through her light coat.

As she rounded the corner, someone called her name. She turned as Vivian Marshall hurried toward her. The owner of the local bakery, Tori speculated Vivian resented Mrs. Bonner not buying the restaurant’s baked goods from her.

The curly white feather on the woman’s blue wool hat waved in the breeze as she hastened along. “Aren’t you the early bird today?” Vivian asked as she hooked her arm through Tori’s.

Before she could respond, the other woman continued. “I wanted to ask you what’s going on with you and Jesse.” Vivian’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.

Tori stiffened. “What do you mean?”

“Oh, you know what I mean. You two have been seen all over town. At church, strolling together, eating in restaurants, shopping. What gives?”

Tori stopped and regarded the woman, jerking them to a standstill. “Well it’s nice to know the people of Guthrie have nothing better to do than watch my comings and goings and report on them.” At Vivian’s raised eyebrows, she felt the heat rise to her face.

“Are you two getting back together?” Vivian asked as she placed her hand on Tori’s in a firm grip, then continued their walk.

Tori shook her head. “No. Jesse wanted us to spend some time together. I’m decorating his house, and we have a lot to discuss.”

“Ah huh,” Vivian smirked. “I’ll tell you one thing, Tori Cochran. Don’t wait too long. I’ve seen other women casting their eyes in his direction. He’s a handsome and successful man, and if he belonged to me, I wouldn’t be giving him an excuse to look elsewhere.”

Tori thrust out her chin. “If he wants to look, that’s fine with me.” Her throat worked to swallow the lump that rose. Jesse and some other woman? Why did that hurt so much?
He’s mine, dammit!
The glint from the gold band on her finger, shining from the warm morning sunlight, caught her eye, and she rubbed it gently with her thumb.
Mine!

Watching her movements, Vivian smiled slyly. “Here’s my store. Have a pleasant day.” She waved and entered the bakery.

What women are casting their eyes at Jesse? I’ll bet it’s that young widow, Amy Wilson
!

But she casts her eyes at every man in town.
Or it could be Dr. Hendricks niece, Maggie, just come to visit to help in the infirmary while his wife, Louise, recovered from a broken ankle.
She’s a pretty little thing, but too young for Jesse.
Isn’t she?

Halfway through the morning, Tori still ran a list of women’s names through her head. Seems there were several in town she suspected had no respect for the bonds of matrimony. Vivian might be onto something. To leave Jesse’s bed for too long might not be a smart move. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t get past the fear of getting pregnant again.

She finished her appointment with Marian, followed by a lengthy visit at the mercantile. Pleased at how things were coming along with the parlor, she started for home. This project had been good for her.

A few minutes later, she spotted Jesse leaving the bank building. He stepped into the red mud of the street, darted past the mail coach, and joined her. He hesitated as he caught her eye, and then smiled. “Good morning.”

“Hah, morning?” She pulled out her watch. “It’s past eleven o’clock.”

“I agree, closer to afternoon. What do you say to an early lunch?” He spun and walked backwards as they talked. Tori grabbed his arm to keep him from bumping into a hitching post.

He halted and put his hands on her shoulders, forcing her to a stop as well. “Tori, about last night. . .”

“It’s fine. I don’t want to talk about it.” She gave him a quick half smile and shrugged off his hands. He studied her a moment, then took her arm in his. Butterflies skittered around her stomach, and a crazy vision of him grabbing her right there and kissing the life out of her flew into her head.

What am I thinking? You know where that would lead. And in the middle of the street, no less. Good heavens, behave yourself.

Community leader, Edwina Boswell, headed toward them, her impressive bosom leading the way. The president of the Ladies League for Decency, Mrs. Boswell struck fear in the hearts of the saloon owners and dance hall girls of Guthrie. Her life’s work entailed making sure no purveyor of spirits or ladies of the evening were allowed to feel welcome on the streets they shared with decent folks. She made it a point to cross to the other side of the street if such a person dared to venture out while she did her daily shopping.

“Mr. Cochran,” she said, nodding in Jesse’s direction. She turned, flashing Tori a bright smile. “We’re going to need some cookies for our meeting tonight at the new church Fellowship Hall. The Ladies League for Decency is planning our upcoming protest march, and we want as many women to attend as possible. And you know, dear, your cookies always bring them in.”

Tori bit her lip to keep from smiling at the pink and purple hat with a deep violet bird on top, close to sliding onto the older woman’s face. One more thrust of her head and it would bounce off her chest and hit Jesse in the eye. “Of course, I’ll be more than happy to provide the cookies.”

“Excellent. And you will be attending the meeting as well tonight, of course?”

“Yes, indeed she will, Mrs. Boswell,” Jesse said, addressing the woman most men in town would like to see tarred and feathered and driven out on a rail. “In fact, I’ll be escorting my wife there and back.”

“Oh how wonderful, Mr. Cochran. We can use some strong backs to set up the chairs,” she simpered.

Simpered?
Disgusted, Tori waited for the old harridan to start batting her eyelashes. It seems all women were taken in by Jesse’s charm and good looks. Or were Marion’s comments earlier playing havoc with her brain?

“It would be my pleasure, ma’am.”

“Very good, I’ll see you both at seven-thirty. The meeting starts at eight.” She patted Jesse’s arm and entered the mercantile, ready to do battle for decency.

Tori lowered her voice and glanced at Jesse. “What was that all about? You can’t stand Mrs. Boswell.”

“I consider it my duty to the fair ladies in town to support Mrs. Boswell’s quest for decency.”

Tori stiffened. Fair ladies? Did Jesse plan on using the ladies’ meeting to cast his eyes on another woman?

“What?” Jesse asked innocently.

“Nothing. I’m wondering about your motivation.”

“I want to spend some time with you, darlin’.” He tugged her forward. “Now how about that lunch?”

Jesse had had enough of Mrs. Boswell. The old witch had pushed him, coaxed him, and bullied him for more than two hours. He’d taken down all the tables and set up the chairs. When he thought to make his escape to the saloon to wait for Tori, she had him cleaning out the storage closet in the meeting room.

He dragged unused furniture to the basement and hauled wood to the first and second floors of the fellowship hall for the two stoves. Before he got to take any sort of a break, she announced the end of the meeting and could he please take down all the chairs and set up the tables again for the bible class the next evening?

“Darlin’, if that woman had commanded the troops in the Grey Army, the Confederates never would have lost.” Jesse wiped the sweat from his forehead and took Tori’s arm as they left the meeting.

“Oh, she had nothing but praise for you.” Tori smirked. “She went on and on about what an upright, moral man you are. Dedicated to the values and ideals of the Ladies League for Decency of Guthrie, Oklahoma Territory.”

“I hate to disappoint her, but I was on my way to the saloon when she roped me into the other jobs.”

“Oh dear.” Tori glanced at him.

“What?”

“Mrs. Boswell intends to have you lead our Ladies League for Decency march later this month.”

“Is she out of her mind?” He choked.

“She said you were such a paragon of virtue, you would be an inspiration to all the other men in town.”

Jesse hung his head and groaned. “Honey, if I lead any march for decency, I might as well close my law practice and plan to spend the rest of my miserable life as a social outcast. No saloon in town would let me in, and no one would have anything to do with me. You have to get me out of this.”

Tori laughed. “That’s what you get for buttering up Mrs. Boswell this afternoon, Jesse Cochran.” She put her finger to her lips in concentration. “Well, maybe sometime before the march you can arrange to break your leg.” She smiled cheerfully.

“If I know that old tyrant, she’ll hand me a pair of crutches.”

When they reached Tori’s door, Jesse kissed her, but kept his hands in his pocket. Tori lingered a bit, but wished him a good night and went into the house.

Jesse took a deep breath and headed next door. Trying to win his wife back was getting him into all sorts of trouble.

Hell, the only march I want to lead is Tori to my bed.

Tori sat on the floor in Jesse’s parlor, thumbing through new catalogs. Jesse hunkered alongside her, his chin resting on her shoulder and his arms wrapped around her middle as she flipped through the pages.

He touched her hand to stop her. “Wait, go back to the other page.”

“This one?”

“Yeah. What do you think of that sofa and chair?”

Tori inspected the chocolate brown and white print sofa with the matching chair. The modern one, with wood along the top and sides, appealed to him.

“You know, it would be very nice in here.” Her gaze traveled the room. “It could set across from the fireplace and with the right carpet and drapes, it would give the room a very warm and inviting feel.”

Jesse studied her as she visualized the furniture in the room. Good, exactly why he wanted her help. He needed her to imagine it her home again. Until she moved back into his house and his life, he wouldn’t quit. Despite the bumps and bruises, his love for this woman consumed him.

“I’ll send a check tomorrow, if it’s what you want.” He stood and stretched.

“Don’t order it for me. This is your house, and you should make the final decision.”

Jesse took her hand and helped her up. “Tori, you will move back here one day. No, don’t say anything.” He put his finger to her lips when she started to protest. “We belong together. You know it, and I know it. Please give it time, honey. We’ll work it out.”

“I don’t want to give you false hope. I can’t be what you want in a wife, what you need. Please don’t force me.” Her voice was fragile and shaky.

“I won’t ever force you to do anything, darlin’. All I’m asking is to give us a chance.” He bent his head and kissed her, pulling her even closer. Tori sighed, and he could feel her muscles relax. It felt good to hold her. She fit so well, like their bodies were built to complement each other.

“Tori?”

Jesse and Tori jumped apart.

“In here, Rachel.” Tori slid her hand down the front of her dress, then smoothed her hair.

Rachel entered the parlor. “Oh.” Two dots of red appeared on her cheeks.

“We were discussing furniture. From the catalog.” Tori pointed to the book lying between them. Her face flushed, and she was breathing hard. Jesse grinned at her agitation.

Rachel tried to appear oblivious. “I have a note here from Michael’s teacher.”

Tori’s brows furrowed as she reached for the folded paper. “Why wouldn’t she have Michael give to me?”

“I don’t know. But now I’ve done my duty.” She shot a look from Jesse’s face to Tori’s and grinned. “Oh, by the way, I have a really, really important party to go to Saturday. And guess what? Josh Cahill asked if he could escort me. He’s the cutest boy in school.”

“Oh, honey, I’m so happy for you.” Tori shared her niece’s smile.

Jesse stood and dusted his pants. “Wait just one minute, here, ladies. Who is this Josh person?”

Tori and Rachel both stared at him.

“He’s in my class.”

Jesse crossed his arms. “Who are his parents, and when do we get to meet him?”

Tori grinned. “He’s right, honey, we should meet this young man before you go somewhere with him.”

“This is so embarrassing.” Rachel chewed on her lip.

Jesse placed his hands on his hips. “Not so embarrassing. I just want to meet this Josh before the party.”

Tori got busy gathering up the catalogs, her shoulders slightly shaking.

“All right, I’ll bring him around after school tomorrow.”

Jesse nodded. “That’s good. I’ll expect you both in my office.”

Rachel rolled her eyes, and turned to Tori. “Um, well, there’s something I wanted to ask you.”

“What?” Tori blinked rapidly to remove the tears of laughter from her eyes.

Rachel twisted her hands. “Um, do you think I could get a new dress?”

“Well, most likely. Let me go over our finances.”

“I’ll buy you the dress, Rachel.” Jesse wanted to help make things easier for Tori, to show her they were all family, despite their problems.

Tori regarded him. “You don’t have to. I’m sure I can come up with the money.”

“No, I want to do it. Don’t forget, she’s my niece through marriage. I like the idea of a pretty young girl having a new dress for an important party.” He winked at Rachel, who blushed furiously. “After I meet this Josh person, that is.” His voice lowered.