Second Chance Brides (5 page)

“If you prefer, you can tie the rope around your waist, and I can haul you up.”

Leah winced. That made her sound like a piece of freight. Standing, she shook out her skirt. She’d never get all the mud and stains from this garment, and she couldn’t afford to lose one of her few dresses. Thin as they were, they were all she had.

Gathering her strength and fortitude for another attempt up the slippery slope, she stepped forward. The man above her looked well capable of lifting her weight. Wasn’t he the town’s blacksmith or something like that?

She wiped her muddy hand on her dress and held it up. He grabbed her around the wrist and pulled. Her body flew upward, but her feet felt as if they were anchored in quicksand, and for a second, she thought she’d be torn in two. But a sucking smack sounded, and her feet followed her body. Even her boots were still attached. Good thing, since they were her only pair.

She landed hard on solid ground and wavered, trying to regain her balance. The man kept a hand on her shoulder until she quit wobbling. She glanced up—way up into a pair of eyes so dark she couldn’t distinguish the pupils from the irises. He nodded and released her, moving past her to help the family still in the ditch.

Watching him so effortlessly help the woman up and then gently reach down to receive the squalling baby quickened something deep inside of Leah. The man’s wide shoulders had to be at least three feet across the back. If her father had matched her up with a man like this instead of that ancient curmudgeon, she’d have never run away.

The father of the baby shinnied up the slope, using the rope. He shook the big man’s hand and smiled for the first time since the storm. “Thanks for coming to our rescue, Dan.”

The big man—Dan—nodded and turned back to Leah as the family walked away. “You all right, ma’am?”

Leah snorted a laugh and looked down at her filthy dress. “Do I look all right to you?”

His gaze traveled down the length of her body, and a crooked smile tugged at one side of his mouth. “A little mud don’t change a thing. You’re mighty fine in my eyes.”

Leah’s heart skipped a beat, and she glanced up to see if he was serious. His eyes held no humor, no jesting. “Well…uh…thank you, Mr….”

He yanked off his stained hat. “Howard, ma’am. I’m Dan Howard.”

“Leah Bennett.”

That quirky smile returned. “I know who you are, ma’am. I reckon the whole town does.”

Leah’s smile melted, and she pursed her lips. “I suppose you’re right. Thank you for helping me out of that ditch.”

“Happy to help, ma’am.” He tipped his hat again and looked past her as if he wanted to be on his way. “Reckon I’ll go help out at the store. Looks like it caught the worst of the storm.”

Leah gasped as she noticed its remains. All that was left of Fosters’ Mercantile were the floorboards, and debris of all kinds littered the boardwalk and street nearby. Even worse, the Foster home, which sat right behind the store, was lying in a crumpled mess across Bluebonnet Lane. Two dozen or more of the townsfolk were helping with the cleanup. How would the town get by without its only store? She allowed her gaze to roam over the small town. Thankfully, most buildings were still standing, though a number of them had minor damage and broken windows.

But what about the boardinghouse? Everything she owned in the world was in her room on the second floor. She stepped past Polly and Dolly Dykstra’s garish pink house and gazed down Bluebonnet Lane. Relief flooded her to see the lovely Victorian home still standing. Painted a soft green with white trim, the house was always inviting.

At least it had been until the owner had agreed to marry the town marshal—the same man Leah had come to town to marry. Now things at the boardinghouse were uncomfortable, even though Rachel tried hard to make Leah and Shannon feel welcome.

Leah had hoped to find employment of some kind and to save enough money so she could find a small place to rent. If only she was a man and could do carpentry or window repair, she’d have it made. Instead, she could sew and clean, but who would pay her to do that? Most men would marry rather than hire a woman to do such menial chores.

Leah sighed and walked toward the boardinghouse. She needed to get changed and see what she could do to help with the cleanup, and she needed to get this dress soaking if she was to have any hopes of salvaging it.

Her life felt like that dress: muddy, torn, a mess. How was she going to get by?

Something shiny on the ground snagged her attention, and she bent and picked it up. How odd. How could a hand mirror get thrown so far from the store or the home it came from and not get broken?

It was like a message from God. Yes, she was wet and mangy as a stray dog after a thunderstorm, but God had brought her through the storm without a scratch. Yes, she was stuck in Lookout, but God had provided room and board for her through the Corbetts. But she couldn’t live off of them forever and maintain her dignity.

What she needed was a husband. Her thoughts turned back to Dan Howard. Yes, he was strong and fairly comely, but was he a man she could spend the rest of her life with?

She shook her head, knowing the truth. She wanted a man with more standing in town than the livery owner. A man who didn’t smell like horses when he came home each night. No, Dan Howard wasn’t her idea of the perfect husband.

Rachel Davis added the final batch of potatoes to the stew and stirred it with the long, wooden spoon Luke had carved for her. She’d used her largest kettle and hoped it would be enough to feed the hungry mob cleaning up the town. Of course, once Jacqueline spread the word for folks to come and eat at the boardinghouse, other women would probably bring food here as well. Feeding folks at the boardinghouse just made sense with her having the biggest table in town, but even then, they’d have to eat in shifts or over at the café.

Footsteps sounded behind her, and she smiled. Luke ran his arms around her waist and tugged her back against his solid chest. He leaned down and nibbled on her earlobe and ran kisses down her neck. Finally, he sighed and rested his chin on her head. “Some wedding day, huh?”

Rachel turned in his arms and laid her head on his chest. “Certainly not the way I’d imagined our special day, but at least nobody will ever forget it.”

Luke chuckled. “You’re right about that. I’m just thankful nobody was hurt too bad.”

“It amazing that there weren’t any deaths, considering how fast that twister pulled together and attacked the town.”

Luke brushed his knuckles along her cheek. “I’m sorry, Rachel. I wanted this to be the happiest day of your life.”

“It is. Don’t you know that? I married the man I’ve loved all my life. Nothing can ruin that.” She smiled up at her handsome husband. “I still can’t believe we’re actually married.”

“Oh, believe it.” He leaned down and melded his lips to hers. At first, he was gentle, exploring, but then he became more urgent, staking his claim on her. And she didn’t mind one bit. The back door slammed shut, and she and Luke jumped apart like a courting couple caught spooning instead of newlyweds.

Jacqueline’s eyes widened, and she grinned. “Caught you smooching, didn’t I?”

Rachel snickered as Luke’s ears turned red. “You might as well get used to kissing in front of our daughter. You are her pa now.”

Luke’s mouth tilted up on one side, doing funny things to Rachel’s insides. Oh, how she loved this man. A man she had thought would never be her husband. But God had worked a miracle and moved mountains of persistent regret and refusal to forgive.

“I like the sound of that—Pa.”

“Me, too!” Jacqueline hurried over and wrapped her arms around both of them. “I wanted you for my pa almost since the first time I met you.”

Luke pulled back from their embrace and cocked one eyebrow at Jacqueline. “From the first time? I seem to remember nearly getting drowned in the river the first time we met.”

Jacqueline giggled. “Well, maybe it was when you adopted Max.”

“Where is that ol’ mutt, anyway?” Luke asked.

“Where do you think? Hiding in the jail. All that tornado ruckus scared him half to death.”

Reluctantly, Rachel pulled away and stirred the stew again. The aroma of beef, onions, and other vegetables filled the air, blending with the scent of biscuits baking in the oven. “You two scoot on in to the dining room and set the table. I want things ready when folks start coming in to eat.”

Luke shook his head, but his eyes glimmered. “Not even married three hours, and she’s already bossing me around.”

“Might as well get used to it,” Jacqueline said. “She bosses me around all the time.”

Rachel laughed with her daughter and husband. For far too long, this house had lacked joy and laughter. In spite of all that had happened today, she felt giddy. Tonight her dreams would come true, and she would be Luke’s wife in all ways.

She walked to the back door and stared up at the clearing sky. The cool temperatures that followed on the coattails of the storm were giving way to the normal August heat. A bead of sweat trickled down from her right temple, and she swiped it away.

So many forces had worked to keep her and Luke apart, but the storm had come too late. She was Mrs. Luke Davis, and nothing could change that now. Rachel grinned up at the sky. “Thank You, Lord.”

Leah stood in the hallway, wishing she could shrivel up and blow away like a piece of dust. She hadn’t meant to eavesdrop—to see the marshal kissing Rachel or to overhear their private moments with Jacqueline. She’d only come to see if Rachel needed any help before venturing back outside to aid in the town’s cleanup.

Though truly happy for Luke and Rachel, Leah couldn’t help feeling disappointed that she wasn’t the one married. She longed for a home of her own and a husband coming home each night, but after helping Ma tend ten younger brothers and sisters, she could well do without the child. She never wanted children. They were so much work, and a woman never had a moment to herself when she had a brood of young’uns. But what man would marry a woman who didn’t want to bear him children?

Luke and Jack were in the dining room, rattling silverware and plates as they set the table. Leah backed up a few steps, hoping the floorboards didn’t creak, then walked to the kitchen door, making her footsteps sound louder than normal. She cleared her throat. “Um…I was wondering if you needed some help.”

Rachel spun around from the pot she was stirring and smiled. “That would be nice, Leah. I wouldn’t normally accept your help, since you’re a guest here, but with the wedding and then the storm…well, I hadn’t planned to cook today, but it seemed the thing I could best do to help. People will need to eat after all their hard work cleaning up the aftermath.” She blushed, as if she hadn’t planned to make a speech.

“I don’t mind helping. I thought I’d go back outside and work some more after changing clothes, but I’d prefer not to get all muddy again.”

Rachel, still in her wedding dress, glanced around the near-spotless kitchen. “Hmm…the stew isn’t ready, so we can’t dish it up yet.” She snapped her fingers. “Why don’t you check on Shannon and see if she needs anything. She badly twisted her ankle running during the storm and is resting in the parlor. Then you can slice the pies. I made extra so I wouldn’t have to bake for the next few days since…um, well, since I was getting married.”

Leah smiled. “Congratulations. It was a very nice wedding.”

Rachel chuckled. “Thanks, and wasn’t that party afterward something?”

“I’m sorry your reception was ruined by the storm.”

Rachel shrugged. “At least most everybody had eaten their cake.”

Leah studied the ground a moment, curious about something but reluctant to ask. A table covered with a lacy cloth had been used to hold gifts from the townsfolk. The table had been piled high with handmade towels, table coverings, jars of food, baskets of fresh produce, and even a ham or two. She hated the thought of all those things being destroyed in the storm. “What happened to all your gifts?”

“Most things were spared. Folks grabbed an armful as they raced into the church. Only a few jars of beans were broken. It was awfully kind of folks to think of those gifts at a time like that.”