Love Finds You in Groom, Texas (30 page)

Summer is upon us, and love is in the air. Fellas, if you’re in need of advice on how to woo a lady proper-like, you’ve come to the right place. Here in the Texas Panhandle, we’ve conquered the art of courting. I asked my wife to help me put together a list of things a fella could do to catch a lady’s eye. First off, learn how to talk to her. Don’t bore her with the price of cattle or the latest automobile fad. Make sure you flatter her and call her “darlin’ ” or “honey.” Tell her how pretty that new bonnet is. And pull out her chair for her when you sit down to a meal. Sweep her into your arms and waltz her around the room on occasion. And for heaven’s sake, bring home flowers after you’ve had an argument. I brought home a dozen red roses just last night. —
“Tex” Morgan, reporting for the
Panhandle Primer

After the dancing came to an end, Jake gathered his four brothers on the church steps. If they couldn’t advise him on the art of coaxing Anne to stay in Groom, no one could.

“Fellas, I need to talk to you. I need some advice.”

“What sort of advice?” John leaned against the railing and gave Jake a curious look.

“Female advice.”

“Ah…female advice.” Jeremiah chuckled. “Now we’re talkin’. How can we help?” He plopped down on the top step and rested his elbows on his knees.

Jake looked at his brothers. Gathered here on the front porch of the church, they looked like a proper wedding party. Perhaps one day soon they would be.

“You’re all married men, so you’ve figured out how to court a lady. I need advice. I don’t want Anne to leave, but it’s too soon to ask her to stay. At least, I think it is. I’m not sure. That’s the problem. Nothing is clear anymore. I used to think I knew what I was doing, but now I can’t even remember if I put my socks on this morning. Do you see my problem?”

“Plain as day,” Joseph said. He gave Jake a pensive look. “You’re in love.”

“Yeah…” Jake sighed and leaned against the railing. “And it’s just plain awful.”

“Yep.” Jedediah drew near and patted him on the shoulder. “Wish I could say there was a cure, but it’s terminal.”

“Don’t really want to recover,” Jake said. “Just need to know what to do about it. She’s leaving in two days, and I don’t want her to.”

“Does she know that?” John asked. “Have you told her that you care about her?”

“Well, I’ve held her hand and comforted her a time or two,” he said. He wanted to add, “And planted a few kisses in her hair,” but thought they might laugh at him.

“You need to court her proper-like,” Jeremiah said. “You’ve always been loaded with ideas. I would think this would be the perfect time to come up with a few new ones.”

“Remember the time you decided we could cut down on our workload if we would just put ourselves on a schedule?” Jeremiah leaned against the edge of the barn. “You were right.”

“And remember when you got that idea—we all thought it was harebrained—to move the cattle to the south pasture because it’s more shaded?” John laughed then stopped abruptly. “Turned out you were right.”

“Now that I think on it, you’ve been right most of the time,” Jedediah said. “Least when it comes to good ideas.”

“So what’s stopping you from coming up with an idea to keep Anne here?” John asked. “If anyone could do it, you could.”

“Really? You think so?” Jake felt his confidence growing.

“Sure.” Joseph grinned. “A-course, you could put a feed sack over her head and throw her over your shoulder like we did to you.”

“I don’t think so. Not exactly the proper way to win her heart.”

“Well, then, what if you work up a few tears?” Jedediah suggested. “I read about a fella who did that once. He blubbered like a baby.”

“Did it win him the lady?” Jake asked, considering the idea.

“Nah. She thought he was a big sissy.”

“I’m not the cryin’ type, anyway.” Jake paced the area in front of the church steps.

“There’s only one idea that works, Jake.” John put his hand on Jake’s shoulder. “You’re going to have to come out and tell her you care about her.”

“Won’t be easy,” Joseph added. “I remember the first time I told Milly. My palms were sweaty and I thought I was gonna be sick.”

“Why didn’t you fellas warn me that it was gonna be like this?” Jake asked. “I had no idea love was so difficult.”

“Oh, it’s difficult all right.” Jeremiah sighed. “Just wait till you’re married to her for a few years and have a couple of screaming young’uns runnin’ around the house. Then you’ll know what real love looks like.”

“Hmm. How did we jump from telling her that I care about her to being married and having young’uns?” Jake asked.

“Trust me, it’s not as big a leap as you might think.” Jeremiah grinned and slapped him on the back. “So prepare yourself for the inevitable. If you tell her you love her, you’d best be prepared to show it by walking down the aisle.”

“This might be a good time to remind you that I just met her eight days ago.” Jake chuckled.

“True, but when you know it’s right, there’s no point in waiting. Besides, you don’t want her to slip away, do you? She’s leaving town tomorrow, isn’t she?”

“Monday.”

“Monday.” All four of Jake’s brothers spoke the word in unison.

“Doesn’t give you much time to come up with something brilliant to say.” Joseph’s brow wrinkled.

“If you’re really asking for help, I know who to call on,” John said.

Jake perked up at this proclamation. “Who’s that?”

“Just a minute.” John left and returned with Ruth, Cora, Pauline, and Milly.

“Ladies, my little brother here needs your advice.” John gave them a nod. “It’s a matter of life and death.”

“Life and death?” Cora’s eyes widened. “Who’s dying?”

“Jake, if he can’t convince Anne to stay. So you’ve got to help him. Tell him what to say to her.”

All the ladies began to squeal at once. Jake felt embarrassment wash over him. This wasn’t exactly how he’d pictured the conversation going but he listened anyway, just in case any of the women had some good advice.

Before long, Milly got control of the situation. “Now, Jake, you have a seat. We’re going to give you some courtin’ tips, and I want you to commit them to memory.”

As his brothers’ wives began to offer their suggestions, Jake found himself overwhelmed. Their ideas were good, no doubt, but he didn’t have time to do half the things they mentioned.

He played along, nodding when appropriate, but all the while knowing this really just came down to one thing—courage. He had to work up the courage to tell her. And he would do it today, before they left the church.

When most of the wedding guests had gone, Anne stayed with Maggie, Uncle Bertrand, and a host of others to clean up the mess. Jake and his brothers helped with the big stuff—the tables and so forth. Then they disappeared to the front porch steps to drink lemonade and gab—probably about the weather. The skies overhead had grown heavy. Thank goodness the wedding was behind them. Looked like they had a storm brewing.

Just as she loaded up the last of the dirty tablecloths, a familiar voice sounded from behind her. “Anne, can I ask you a question?”

She turned to face Amaryllis. “Yes, of course. What is it?”

“How do you do it?”

“Do what?” Anne brushed some cake crumbs from her skirt.

“You’re just so…perfect.”

“W–what?” Anne brought her hand to her chest as she tried to make sense of Amaryllis’s words. Was she being serious…or poking fun? Anne could hardly tell.

“Yes. You’re one of those girls I’m supposed to hate.”

“I don’t understand.”

Amaryllis took another step toward her. “You remind me so much of a couple of the girls in my class back home. You’re so much like them, and yet you’re nothing like them. They were beautiful on the outside, like you.”

“You—you think I’m beautiful?”

“You don’t?” Amaryllis reached to take her hand. “You must be blind! You’ve got the shiniest hair I’ve ever seen and the perfect cheekbones. You have no idea what I’d give for your bone structure. And those eyes—they’re the color of chocolate!”

Anne shook her head, unable to make sense of any of this.

“Yes, I should hate you, but I can’t. You’re just too nice. That’s what sets you apart from the girls I know. You’re pretty inside and out.”

How did one go about responding to a comment like that? Should she thank Amaryllis? Anne gave her hand a squeeze and gazed into her flawless face. “Amaryllis, if you had any idea what I’ve been through in my life, you would know that I’m nothing like the girls you know in New York. I might have been raised in a beautiful house and maybe I had pretty things, but my life these past few years has been filled with not-so-pretty things.”

“All I know is this…” Amaryllis’s expression shifted to one of great tenderness. “You haven’t let whatever has happened to you on the outside destroy the beautiful girl on the inside. I know you’ve been through several tragedies. You’ve lost your parents and you had to leave your home. And you’ve landed in a place where you knew no one.”

“Yes.” Anne forced back the tears.

“Some people in your position would grow bitter or angry. I just want you to know that it’s so obvious you’re reacting to tragedy the right way.”

“You think so?”

“Yes.” Amaryllis sighed. “And I have so much to learn from you. I tend to overreact to the slightest bitty thing. If I break a nail, I cry. If I don’t get invited to a social event, I pout. If my dress gets a tear, I think my life has come to an end. It all seems so silly when I look at you.”

“Trust me, I’ve been through those emotions too. I remember the days when my focus was on dresses and parties and hair ribbons—outer things.” Anne paused, realizing the beauty of what the Lord had done in her life. “I guess if I’ve learned anything, it’s this: life is fleeting. And material possessions, as lovely as they are, aren’t worth a hill of beans in comparison to the people we love. I’ve already survived losing both parents, as you’ve said. What difference does it make if I lose my home, my dresses, my jewels?” She paused to finger her tiny cross necklace. “They’re nothing in comparison to losing what really matters.”

Amaryllis embraced her and whispered, “You’re such a brave girl.”

“I don’t know that I would agree with that.” Anne spoke a soft response. “I just know that who I am isn’t really wrapped up in those things. Not anymore, anyway. It’s a fresh new way to look at life.”

Amaryllis took a step back and shook her head. “I can’t say I would have responded the same way, but knowing you has made me want to try to be a better person.”

“Really?”

“Mm-hmm,” Amaryllis said. “And since we’re having a heart-to-heart and all, you’d better know something else too.”

“What’s that?”

“I didn’t just want to hate you because you’re pretty. And nice. I wanted to hate you because I see the way Jake looks at you whenever you enter the room. He’s completely smitten.”

Anne felt her cheeks begin to blaze. She opened her mouth to respond but nothing came out. “I—I haven’t sought his attention.”

“That’s just it. You didn’t have to. When something is right, it’s obvious. And I can no longer deny that he finds you right as rain.”

Anne’s heart swelled at this revelation. Yes, she certainly knew that Jake had feelings for her. There was no doubt in her mind after yesterday’s trip to the canyon. But did he really care about her in the way Amaryllis was suggesting? The words had not been spoken. And with the clock ticking, she wondered if there would be time even if he did speak them.

“Amaryllis, I’ve only been here a few days, and I’m leaving soon.”

“We’ll see about that.” Amaryllis quirked a brow and giggled.

“No, it’s true. My uncle will be driving us to Dallas on Monday morning. And besides, as I said, I’ve not had any aspirations for love. My devotion is to my sisters. They need a good life, one where they feel safe.” Her heart twisted as she spoke these words.

Amaryllis laughed. “According to Emily, they need a life filled with exciting storybook heroes who rescue damsels in distress.”

“My sister’s head is filled with stuff and nonsense.”

“Maybe. Maybe not.” Amaryllis fussed with the wrinkles in her skirt. “I only know one thing…the Lord has brought you here. And I’ve been privileged to meet you…and I do believe in the kind of happily-ever-after stories your sister writes.” She sighed. “Even if this particular story hasn’t cast me as its heroine.” With a nod she turned toward the church.

Anne walked around to the front of the church and found Jake still gabbing with his brothers on the front porch steps. As soon as they saw her, John rose and said something about the weather, leaving in a hurry. So did Joseph, who claimed that Milly needed his help with the children. Jeremiah and Jedediah were the only ones left, but they shot away as soon as Anne approached.

“I see I have quite an effect on your brothers,” she said.

Jake smiled and extended his hand. “They just want to give us some time alone. Do you have a minute to sit and talk?”

“Just.” She pointed to the skies overhead. “Looks like we’re about to have a downpour.”

He glanced up and a stunned expression crossed his face. “Go figure. I hadn’t even noticed.” He looked her way. “Then again, my focus has been on something else entirely. Haven’t really been worried about the weather.” He gave her hand a squeeze, and her heart fluttered.