Twice Promised (The Blue Willow Brides Book #2): A Novel (16 page)

Caleb’s answer brought Jess back to the present. “Dairy farming is not for me.” He set his jaw as he said it, making Jess think Caleb had left on unfavorable terms with his father.

“What do you want to do?” Jess asked. He bit into one of Granny’s delicious cookies and was reminded of when he was a young boy. Granny always encouraged him to find out what life was about and pursue whatever he chose, which hadn’t been hard for him. He remembered when he was just a young boy going to the store with his parents, and the mingling smells of leather products, feed supplies, dried tobacco, and the burning woodstove were forever embedded in his mind. He felt comfortable and useful then—and now. He enjoyed what he did for a living and interacting with the townsfolk.

Caleb gobbled down the last of his cookie and nodded at Jess. “Not sure—maybe go to college, but money’s hard to come by for that.”

Zach snickered. “Well, we already know that, after you tried to rob us.”

Caleb plunked down his cup so hard the coffee splashed onto the counter. “I
said
I was sorry.”

“The proof is in how you work out your debt to us, now isn’t it?” Zach narrowed his eyes at him, and Caleb shifted to one hip.

Greta touched Zach’s sleeve. “Give him time, Zach.”

Zach straightened. “I was only reminding him.”

Jess stepped up to the counter and let Cora pour him another half cup of coffee. “That’s enough about that. I’d like you to come to supper with us.”

“Why? So you can keep an eye on me? I’ll sit on the porch until you get back.”

“No, you’ll do no such thing. I thought it’d be good for you to get to know a few people . . . a little socializing. No harm in that.” Jess eyed him thoughtfully.

“Say you’ll come, Caleb. It’s time to start over and let people help you along the way.” Cora gave him a warm smile, and Caleb finally nodded okay.

Greta unbuckled her shoes and stood in her stocking feet, wiggling her toes. “I’m sorry, but I had to get these shoes off.”

“Greta,
really
!” Cora gave her a shocked look.

Greta rubbed one foot over the other and sighed with relief. “I’m sorry, but standing has been hard on the balls of my feet. I’m not used to being on them all day for days in a row.”

Zach grinned at her. “Aw . . . sure you weren’t out dancing at parties and such in Wyoming? Though I’m glad you decided to answer my ad, I’ll bet you were the main attraction for all the eligible bachelors.”

Greta laughed. “Not hardly. More like helping to harvest wheat and tend to my sister’s twin babies.”

Jess stared down at Greta’s feet, which were barely visible from under the hem of her dress. He could see the tips of her toes through her stockings. He was sure her ankles were shapely too. He dragged his eyes away.

———

Rascal started yapping in his crate, and Greta hurried over to him. “I’ll bet you need to go outside, huh?” She reached in, lifted the lid, and scooped him up. “You poor little thing! We got so busy that we forgot all about you.” Rascal wagged his tail and gave a sharp bark.

“I’ll take him out. He seems to like me,” Caleb said, crossing the room to where Greta stood talking to the pup.

Greta looked up. “Okay, but don’t let him out of your sight. I’ve grown quite fond of the little ragamuffin.”

“I promise to watch him. Maybe we could get a leash for him?” Caleb tucked Rascal under his arm.

“Good idea, I’ll order one. I don’t remember seeing one in the store,” she said. “But I’ll ask. Now hurry back in so we can finish up before we head off to the Meads’.”

Caleb nodded and hurried out the back with the dog.

Greta walked over to where Jess and the rest were cleaning up. She slipped her shoes back on and said, “I think Caleb is trying his best, Zach.”

“I hope so,” he said with a wink. “Want to help me carry this back upstairs before we go to the Meads’?”

“I need to talk to Jess about something first,” Greta said. She saw Jess’s brow furrow.

“I’ll help you, Zach. It’ll only take a minute.” Cora gathered the cups and empty cookie plate.

Zach gave Cora a nod. “Thanks. We’ll be down in a minute,” he said. Greta watched him walk toward the back stairs as Cora followed. “I’ve been meaning to give you back the money I borrowed,” he said, handing her the bills. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome, Zach.” Cora tucked the money into her apron, smiling sweetly.

Jess stood with his work gloves in his hand as Greta turned to him. “What’s on your mind? I need to go back outside and see what’s left on the wagon.”

“I . . . I had an idea I wanted to ask you about.”

“I’m listening.”

“What if we created an area near the stove with a small table and chairs for our customers? Then perhaps we could have some coffee or some type of refreshment.” Greta held her breath until he answered.

He looked at her like she’d grown two heads. “Now why would I want to do that? That would mean more work, and who’s going to have time to prepare refreshments? Everybody and his brother would be coming in for that. Besides, that takes money.”

“Cora and I could . . . maybe we could just keep lemonade or tea on hand. If it got to be more than we expect, we could charge a small fee, but it’d be better if we didn’t. I think serving the customers will make people satisfied.” She paused, then pushed her luck a little further. “And I want to ask if you’d let me decorate the front window for fall next week.”

He shook his head, locking eyes with hers. “Who do you think you are, coming in here and turning my store upside down? No table and chairs. We’ll talk about the front window later.” He turned back to the counter and busied himself sorting papers.

A soft answer turneth away wrath.
Greta pursed her lips, reminding herself that Jess owned the store, and any new idea she might offer up would always be met with disagreement. He was so stubborn!

She stood quietly for a moment, wondering how the gentle Cora was going to be able to live with Jess’s hardheadedness. Didn’t he see that little things like keeping the store tidy and making it a more pleasing place to shop would only benefit him? Her mind searched for a way to convince him of her ideas. She stepped around to the other side of the counter.

“I’d appreciate it if you’d consider the idea. Just think, a man could have a seat while his wife shopped or while he waited for his supplies to be loaded. Why don’t you ask Zach his opinion?” Greta risked another glance at Jess’s firmly set jaw and wondered if he thought she was only a thorn in his flesh.

Caleb walked past with Rascal on his way to the dog’s crate before Jess answered. “Greta, listen to me. Most customers load their own supplies, and I don’t see that many women knocking the door down to shop while the menfolk are waiting.”

She smiled at him. “They could be—especially when I start sewing for Agnes. She seems to be a lady of influence. Maybe other ladies will consider ordering dresses through me instead of that.” She pointed to the Montgomery Ward catalog on the counter in front of them. “I’m not bad with a needle, but I’ll need a small area of space to sew.”

He laid the papers aside, then placed his hands on his hips. “What are you going to ask for next? Wait! Don’t answer. I’m sure you have something churning in that pretty little head of yours.” His eyes fell on the locket she fingered absentmindedly on its chain, and his face softened. He sighed in exasperation. “You win. I’ll see what Zach thinks.” He called out to Caleb, “Come on, let’s get the last of the supplies unloaded now that the rain has stopped.”

“Sure thing,” Caleb answered, pulling his gloves back on.

Greta flashed Jess a smile. “You won’t regret it.
Dank U wel.
”

“Pardon?”

“It means
thank you
in Dutch.”

“Hold on—I never said I agreed yet.” He turned to follow Caleb outside.

“Oh, don’t forget to fix that doorjamb tomorrow,” she called. He paused with his hand on the doorknob and let out a huff, and she covered her mouth to stifle a giggle.

15

Zach hurried back to the carriage where everyone was waiting for him to drive over to the Meads’. His heart thumped, keeping time with his quick footsteps as he clutched the forget-me-nots he’d quickly gathered on the hillside where he liked to walk. In a short time he’d determined they should go ahead with the nuptials so life could settle back into place. He liked Greta well enough, and her beauty could set a man’s blood to boil, even if she did like to be in control of things. But even that was turning out to be a good thing for the mercantile store. He intended to take her to Granny’s himself even if he had to rent a horse so they could get a few moments alone. After that he’d know better how to proceed.

She was warming up to him. He was pretty sure he was ready for her. Wasn’t he? Why else would his heart race and his hands get sweaty whenever he was close to her? He almost laughed out loud at his thinking. When he was writing the letters to her and Cora, he had never considered marriage. However, the idea became very appealing once he met Greta.

“Where have you been?” Jess glared at him as he drew close to the carriage, Cora seated next to him. Caleb sat in the back and Greta across from him. “We’ve been waiting.”

Zach swung his legs up and plopped down next to Greta. “I had something to attend to. Let’s get going,” he said. He turned to Greta and withdrew the flowers, still damp from the rain, from behind his back. “These are for you.” He heard Jess’s humph as he set the horses in a trot down the street in the direction of Silas’s farm.

“Oh, how thoughtful. These are beautiful!” She held the flowers to her nose. “With such a delicate fragrance. What are they called?”

“Forget-me-nots. They’re a perfect match to the blue in your eyes now that you’re holding them close. They have almost no smell in the daytime, but they do late in the day and evening.” His face burned, but it was worth it to have her look at him as she did now, her sky-blue eyes sparkling. His pulse quickened as he watched her arrange her full skirts and was struck once again at her slender, attractive figure. “It’s not every day that a man gets a chance to sit next to a pretty lady.”

A pink color tinged her cheeks, and the late afternoon breeze lifted silken strands of hair at her forehead. He couldn’t help but wonder what she’d look like with her hair down, brushing her slender shoulders.

“I’m sure I’m looking a little worse for wear after all that we did today, but thank you just the same—and for the flowers.” She lowered her eyes, and Zach was surprised at her modest response. She appeared to be confident most of the time, but maybe she wasn’t used to receiving compliments, which he found hard to believe.

“You look as fresh as these flowers,” he said, glancing over her blue homespun dress with approval. “Maybe they can be the ones you carry when we’re married.”

Now where had that come from? He’d sworn to himself he was going to wait until they were alone before he brought that up. He saw her back stiffen. Was that her answer? Was he rushing things? After all, that’s what she’d come for. His heart sank. Had he pushed her too soon?

Caleb shifted in his seat, then stared out at the mountains as though pretending not to have heard.

“Well . . . I . . . don’t know what to say.” She tilted her face up to gaze at him, and his heart raced.

Zach swallowed hard. “Well, that is what you’re here for, isn’t it?” He took her small hand, noticing how soft it felt in his large, calloused one. “We could be married next week.” They hit a bump in the road, slinging Greta against his chest, and he held her a moment, breathing in the sweetness of her hair and lavender soap smell. She pulled back and adjusted the cape around her shoulders. “Unless you need more time . . .”

“I . . . suppose we could . . . I guess I wasn’t expecting it so soon.” She pulled away, fingering the petals on the flowers, keeping her gaze averted.

“I’m sorry. Can you forgive me?” He glanced at Caleb, who appeared to pay them no mind. Leastways, the boy wasn’t dumb. Zach was thankful that Cora and Jess were happily chatting at the front of the carriage instead of eavesdropping.

“I forgive you, Zach, but I’m a little worried since you said yourself that you weren’t even considering marriage when you met us at the train depot. Are you telling me that by week’s end you’ve had a change of heart?”

“That was before I met you and before I told Jess about the situation. Now I find myself very attracted to you. I see no reason to wait a month. I’ll be a good husband to you, and one day I’ll provide you with a ranch and some cattle—and children too.”

One shapely brow quirked as she turned to look him squarely in the eye. “I wasn’t aware that you wanted to be a rancher.”

“I do. Jess is the mercantile man, not me. I need to be outdoors working with my hands. Why, does being married to a rancher not appeal to you?”

She gave a soft laugh. “No, that’s not it. I’ve worked on a farm. I guess I can learn to be a rancher’s wife.”

“You don’t have to sound so doggone cheerful,” Zach teased. He pulled Greta close and gave her a peck on the cheek, then squeezed her waist. Caleb coughed, reminding them that they had an audience.

“Well, there seems to be a matter of where we’ll live, unless you already have a ranch?” Greta sniffed the flowers again.

“I own some property not far from here and will soon start a house . . . now that I have a reason to.” Zach touched the tip of her nose.

“We can talk further about our plans privately,” Greta murmured. “Caleb, I forgot to thank you for walking Rascal.”

Zach took the hint to close the subject, but now that he’d asked her, he was pleased that she seemed to be in agreement. Suddenly he had a hankering for Annabelle’s pot roast and wondered if Greta knew how to cook.

Caleb twisted in his seat toward them. “I was glad to, Miss Greta. He was no trouble. Besides, I like animals.”

“Really? Have you ever given any thought to studying animal husbandry?”

Caleb sat up taller on the seat, suddenly looking more adultlike than before. “Yes, ma’am, I have, but it takes a whole lot of money to go to school to be an animal doctor.”