Measure of Grace (18 page)

“Has Jordan told you he loves you?” queried Althea.

Blushing again, Belinda replied, “Well-l-l-l … not in so many words, but his actions speak louder than words, anyway. He has made it quite clear how he feels about me.”

The sisters giggled again, looking at each other, then Bernadine said, “I envy you, Belinda. Not only is Jordan very rugged, handsome, and charming, but he is also very rich. The Shaws are the richest of all the ranchers in this whole territory.”

“I agree,” said Belinda. “Jordie is indeed rugged, handsome, charming, and loaded with money.”

“Honey, if you marry Jordan,” said Althea, “you’ll be even wealthier than you are right now. Much, much wealthier.”

Belinda grinned and shrugged. “What can I say? But let me emphasize one thing. It is not if I marry Jordie. It is when I marry Jordie. There is no ‘if’ about it. We’ll be engaged in another month or so. Mark my word.”

Bernadine jabbed an elbow in her sister’s ribs again and laughed. “It looks like Belinda knows what she’s doing! She’ll be
Mrs. Jordan Shaw before Christmas!”

Belinda laughed. “Honey, you can count on it!”

When William and Jordan stepped into the kitchen, Sylvia was working at the cupboard. Turning, she smiled and said, “Well, both of my men are back at the same time!”

“After I left the Circle D,” said William, “I rode over to where Jordan was working on the fence. Guy had already headed back here, but I found Belinda with our son.”

“Yes, I know,” she said. “I told her where she could find him.”

William grinned and looked at Jordan. “Anyway, after Belinda left, I helped him finish up there, so we rode on back together.”

Sylvia moved closer to her son. “Honey, did you and Belinda have a nice time together?”

“Not in the way you mean, Mother,” said Jordan. “I might as well tell you what I told Father. I have no romantic inclinations toward Belinda at all. None. She’s a nice girl, and I consider us to be friends. But that’s where it ends, Mother. That’s where it ends.”

Surprise showed on Sylvia’s face. She looked at her husband.

William moved close to her. “I told him that once he gets to know Belinda, he’ll fall in love with her.”

“Of course,” said Sylvia, turning back to her work at the cupboard. “She is such a delightful girl. Just a little more time spent with her, and he’ll go head-over-heels. She’s so perfect for him. She’ll fit into this family excellently.”

“No doubt about it,” said William. “And it will be so good to have this tie with the Ashworths.”

The parents’ backs were now toward their son.

“Won’t it, though?” said Sylvia. “I was thinking about that after Belinda was here today. A perfect situation.”

William and Sylvia talked on, totally disregarding Jordan or his feelings. They were not even aware of it when their son left the room, shaking his head and mumbling, “I’m going to have to take this matter into my own hands.”

He took the stairs to his room two at a time, in a hurry to escape the sound of their voices.

When Belinda arrived home and entered the big ranch house, she found her mother and sister in the kitchen, preparing to bake cinnamon rolls.

Dorothy smiled as she pressed the rolling pin over the dough. “Hello, honey. Were you able to spend some time with Jordan?”

Jean looked at her sister, waiting to hear what she had to tell them.

“Oh yes, Mama,” said Belinda. “He was repairing fence out on the south section. Mrs. Shaw told me where he was, so I rode out there. He was so glad to see me.”

“Of course,” said Jean, smiling broadly. “He’s in love with you, isn’t he?”

Belinda managed to blush once more. “Well … you better believe it!”

Jean giggled and clapped her hands. “He told you he loves you?”

“Well, he didn’t exactly put it into those words, honey, but Jordie has his own special ways of getting the message to me.”

“That’s wonderful,” said Dorothy. “That’s how your father was when we first began to show interest in each other. He didn’t put it into words for a while, but he sure did show me how he felt.”

“So things are really developing between you, huh, sis?”

“Most definitely,” replied Belinda. “I’d like for them to develop a bit faster, but as long as I see progress, it’s all right. I have no doubt that Jordie and I will end up at the altar together. I’m going to be Mrs. Jordan Shaw, sure as spring follows winter!”

Jean sighed. “I wish I could find a beau as handsome and rich as Jordan.”

Dorothy smiled. “Well, honey, I hope you find one like Jordan, too. I want both of you girls to marry men who are on our social level.” She paused. “How pleased William and Sylvia must be to see their son falling in love with you, Belinda.”

Belinda smiled.

Jean stuck out her lower lip in a mock pout. “Too bad the Shaws don’t have another son.”

The next day, Jordan Shaw was riding toward Elkton and was some three miles from town when he saw a wagon coming toward him. When it drew near enough so he could see who was sitting on the seat, he groaned. “Oh no. The Faulkner sisters. Those two busybodies are the last thing I need right now.”

They had recognized him and were waving.

Jordan knew they would expect him to stop and make polite conversation. He would have to do it or suffer the consequences. It would never do for his mother to hear that he had been rude. She would never let up on her lectures about proper etiquette and the place of good manners in the community.

As they were drawing abreast, Jordan stopped his horse and Althea drew rein.

“Hello, Jordan!” said Bernadine. “Nice to see you.”

“And hello from me,” piped up Althea.

Jordan touched his hat brim, nodded with a forced smile, and said, “Hello, ladies. Been to town already, eh?”

“Oh yes,” said Bernadine. “We do a lot of the shopping for both our parents. Makes it easier on them.”

Smiling broadly, Althea said, “We met up with Belinda as she was coming off your ranch yesterday, Jordan. She said she had spent a couple of hours with you, and that things really went well.”

Jordan felt his blood heat up. Belinda had certainly exaggerated about the amount of time they had been together. He was tempted to set the record straight, but decided to leave it alone. “What do you mean, ‘things really went well’?” he asked.

Althea giggled. “You know. Your romance.”

Jordan felt something go sour in his stomach.

“We’re so happy to hear that you and Belinda are falling for each other,” said Althea. “You make a beautiful couple.”

“You sure do,” said Bernadine. “Belinda said the two of you are very, very close.”

Anger welled up inside Jordan Shaw, but he covered it. “Well, ladies,” he said, fighting to keep his voice level, “it’s been nice chatting with you. I really must be going.”

The Faulkner sisters bid him good-bye, and Jordan spurred his
horse into a gallop. As he rode on into town, he told himself there had to be a way to stop this nonsense and still not irritate his parents.

But how?

He must find a way.

By the time Jordan had reached the outskirts of Elkton, he had pushed his horse into a lather, as well as himself. Anger burned within him toward Belinda. Being kind and polite to her was one thing … but Belinda was causing this situation to get out of hand. She was deliberately lying to people and making them think the two of them were falling in love. Jordan had told her plainly that he wasn’t ready for any such thing, that he was not ready to get serious with a girl.

Riding into town, Jordan drew up where he needed to go, tied his horse to the hitch rail, and started down the boardwalk. “Belinda, you refuse to listen to what I tell you. All right, young lady … this calls for drastic measures. I’m not sure what they will be, but drastic measures are coming!”

At sunrise the next Monday, October 14, Knight Colburn was tying the bedroll behind his saddle at the small barn behind his house when he looked up to see Jordan come riding into the yard.

Jordan smiled as he reined in and said, “Well, ol’ pal, are you ready for two days of hunting?”

Knight gave him a pleasant grin. “Sure am. It’s been hectic at the office this past week. It’ll feel good to get away. The Tylers are excellent at what they do. They’ll keep things rolling without a hitch, I’m sure.”

Jordan dismounted and helped Knight load his saddlebags with ammunition. Knight tied his knapsack full of food next to the bedroll, then slid his rifle into the saddle boot. As he buckled the strap that held the rifle in place, he said, “I suppose you’ll have your eye out for that big black bear you’re wanting to bag.”

“I sure will. I’ve caught glimpses of him several times when I was staying at that same old cabin, but by the time I could grab my rifle and go after him, he was gone. One of these times, I’ll get
him.” Jordan looked toward the house. “I think I can smell that Annie Colburn breakfast right now.”

Knight chuckled. “Well, Mom’s got it ready. Let’s go!”

When they entered the kitchen, Annie smiled warmly and said, “Well, there’s that boy who’s like a second son to me! Ready for breakfast, Jordan?”

“I sure am!” said Jordan, taking in the sweet aroma through his nostrils with a big sniff. He bent down and kissed her on the cheek. “I’m always ready to eat your cooking. I sure miss it at the ranch. It isn’t fair that Knight still gets to eat your cooking every day and I have to wait till I can make it in here once a week or so.”

Annie laughed. “Well, you know you’re welcome anytime you can come.”

“I sure do, ma’am,” said Jordan, “and I appreciate it more than I could ever tell you.”

“Sit down, boys,” said Annie. “It’s all on the table.”

Jordan endured the quiet moment as Knight offered thanks to the Lord, then enjoyed his breakfast.

When they had eaten their fill, both young men put on their hats and mackinaws. Jordan kissed Annie’s cheek another time and thanked her for the good breakfast.

Knight hugged his mother and kissed her forehead tenderly. “Now, Mom, I’ll be home tomorrow evening. If you need anything, just let the Tylers know. All right?”

“Yes. Don’t worry about me, honey. I’ll be fine.”

Annie stood at the door and watched as her son and his best friend mounted up. They waved, and she waved back, saying in a low tone, “Dear Lord, take care of them.”

Knight and Jordan rode out of the yard and headed for Main Street. They took a right turn and headed northward out of town. People on the boardwalk waved and called to them as they passed by. They returned the greetings, and soon were out in open country, aiming for the Sawtooth Mountains.

They kept the horses at a fast pace until they reached the foothills, then slowed them to a trot.

Jordan’s thoughts were on Belinda Ashworth as he searched his brain for a solution. What could he do to end this mythical
romance that was in her mind? Somehow he had to come up with a solution, and he had to do it in a hurry. Belinda’s lies about him falling in love with her had to stop. But he couldn’t just flat come out and tell her to shut her mouth. Whatever he did, he dare not upset his parents by treating Belinda in a rough manner.

“… don’t you think?” came Knight’s words filtering into his ears.

Jordan looked at his friend blankly. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”

“I said to me this is the most beautiful time of the year, with the brilliant colors of the leaves, especially the leaves on the aspen trees, don’t you think?”

Jordan looked around at the colorful scene that surrounded them. The aspen leaves were turning golden and fluttering beautifully in the breeze, looking like flashing diamonds in the brilliant sunlight. “Yes. I agree, Knight. This really is the most beautiful time of the year.”

A short while later, as they wound through the pines, birches, and aspens, Knight said something else to his friend. Again, Jordan was buried in thought, and Knight had to repeat what he had said.

Frowning as they guided the horses across a narrow stream, Knight said, “Ol’ pal, is something troubling you?”

Jordan looked at him, blinking. “What do you mean?”

“Well, you seem to be quite preoccupied. Anything I can do to help?”