Twice Promised (The Blue Willow Brides Book #2): A Novel (17 page)

Greta leaned over and patted him on the knee. “Well, at least you have a job now, and that’s a start.”

He snorted. “Ha! I already owe my next few earnings to Jess and Zach.” He looked down, clasping his hands together nervously.

“Son, if you work as hard at saving for an education as you do trying to be on the opposite side of the law, then you’ll eventually do all right.” Zach leaned back in his seat, folding his arms across his chest.

“I can’t thank you enough for your
encouraging
words, Zach,” Caleb said sarcastically.

“I don’t think Zach meant to sound so harsh, Caleb.” Greta flashed an annoyed looked at Zach. “You worked very hard today at the store, and if you continue, then who knows what could happen in the future.” Greta’s voice conveyed reassurance—how Zach knew he should have spoken. Still, he hesitated about putting too much faith in the troubled young man.

When they drove into the Meads’ rain-washed yard and stopped near a cluster of aspen trees, Annabelle was waiting for them on the porch, her ample frame covered by a crisp white apron over a brown homespun dress. A couple of dogs yapped, tails wagging, and she shooed them away, while a fluffy cat scampered into the thick bushes alongside the house. A feeling of warmth flooded Cora’s being. She was eager to make some new friends, and she’d felt a connection with Silas and Annabelle from their first meeting. She wagered that they were God-fearing people after observing them with their children at the mercantile.

“Land sakes!” Annabelle greeted them as she made her way down the porch steps and into the yard. “Climb down and come on inside and make yourselves comfortable.” She waved to them, then paused when her eyes fell on Caleb.

Jess was quick to react and climbed down from the carriage. “Annabelle, I hope you don’t mind that I brought along my new handyman, Caleb Zuckerman.” Jess pulled him over to meet her, then assisted Cora out of the carriage.

Annabelle was gracious and gave Caleb a warm smile. “Jess knows everyone’s welcome at our home. I hope you’re hungry for pot roast. Silas!” she called out toward the barn. “Our company is here.” She gave Cora and Greta a welcoming hug. “How have you ladies been? Hope Jess isn’t working you to death.”

“Everything’s been fine with us,” Greta said with a smile. “It’s nice to see you again.”

“Thank you for having us over,” Cora chimed in. The fresh scent of rain enveloped the yard, which was edged with a lush bed of different flowers and pine straw. She thought it was charming against the backdrop of their white clapboard farmhouse.

“Did you say roast?” Zach gave Annabelle a peck on the cheek. “You know that’s my favorite.”

Annabelle gave him a pinch on his cheek. “That and whipped potatoes, fresh snap beans, and huckleberry cobbler with fresh cream for dessert.”

Cora’s stomach rumbled at the mention of the delicious fare, and Zach smacked his lips and said, “Just wait till you taste her cookin’!”

Silas scurried over from the barn as they stood in a cluster chatting. “Howdy, everyone! What are you all standing out here for? Annabelle has been waiting to dish up supper.”

“You’ve got no argument from me. I’m starving.” Zach clapped Silas on the back good-naturedly. “I want you to meet Caleb here. He’s hired on to help us at the store for a while.”

Silas stuck his hand out and Caleb grasped it firmly. “Good to have you, son.”

Caleb nodded with a smile. “Much obliged to have supper with your family.”

Silas tossed his head. “Then let’s go. A young man like you needs three squares a day!”

They all laughed. Zach reached for Greta’s hand, and the group followed Silas inside.

Walking into the front room of the house, Cora observed the homey atmosphere. The living room was furnished with an English cottage look, with rose-patterned pillows and subdued chintz fabric covering the couch, as if to say “come and stay awhile.” Delicate figurines graced the ornate fireplace, where burning logs snapped to ward off the early evening chill and dampness.

“Let me take your wraps, ladies, and your hats, gentlemen. You know Annabelle is strict about that sort of thing at the table.” Silas chuckled as he took their belongings and disappeared.

The children tumbled down the stairs like a pile of puppies, practically on top of each other, their rosy cheeks glowing from their evening baths. “I beat both of you!” Sue yelled over her shoulder, then came to a screeching halt at Caleb’s feet. She stared up at him in complete surprise, then flashed him a big smile.

Sue’s brothers, Joshua and Stephen, plowed into her, propelling her forward against Caleb. He caught her with gentle hands and set her up straight. “Take it easy there, boys,” he murmured.

Cora watched the little girl’s face glow at Caleb’s defense and decided to add to the beautiful child’s moment of joy.

“Yes, gentlemen, always be kind to your little sister.” She reached to stroke the girl’s baby-soft cheek. “Then you’ll grow up to be kind to ladies.”

Annabelle grabbed Joshua by the arm. “Where are your manners?” Turning to her guests, she shook her head. “Excuse our little brood’s discourteous greeting.”

Sue slipped her hand into Caleb’s, and he looked at her with a mixed expression of pleasure and sadness that only Cora seemed to notice. She wondered briefly if the boy had a little sister of his own somewhere.

“What’s your name?” Sue asked.

“Caleb.”

“Did
all
of you come to eat with us?” she asked, looking around at everyone.

They all laughed, and Silas tweaked her pigtails. “Why don’t you lead the way to the dining room, little lady?”

“Come, follow me.” Sue yanked on Caleb’s hand. “You can sit by me.”

Sue led the way, and Cora paused just inside the dining room doorway. The large, airy room was fully set with a Battenberg tablecloth beneath gleaming stemware and rose china etched in gold. The table was laden with dishes piled high with food, and the delectable smells made her mouth water. Soft candlelight created an ambience for a relaxed dining experience.

“Take any seat you like,” Annabelle instructed. “I’ll be back in a flash with the roast. I’ve been keeping it warm in the oven.”

“Can I be of help, Annabelle?” Cora paused as Jess pulled out her chair before taking a seat.

“No, dear. You’re a guest. Just have a seat. Silas, will you please fill the water glasses? Greta, can I put these flowers in a vase of water for you?”

“Yes, of course.” Greta extended the bouquet. “Why not let me share them as a centerpiece for your lovely table?”

“That’d be nice.” Annabelle took the flowers, breathing deeply of their fragrance. She disappeared into the kitchen and was back in a flash, the flowers swimming in a cut-glass vase that she placed in the center of the table. She buzzed around the room like a butterfly at a picnic, and her cheerfulness was contagious, making everyone feel at home, Cora thought.

The children sat together at one end nearest their father, with Sue making sure that Caleb was across from her and to the left of her father. Jess sat next to Cora, and Zach and Greta sat across from them. Silas filled the glasses before taking his chair at the head of the table.

“The table looks so nice,” Greta said to Annabelle, who carried in a large platter of sumptuous-looking roast.

“I wanted it to look especially nice for you ladies tonight.” Annabelle’s face flushed. She set the roast down, placed her apron on the sideboard, and took her seat.

Cora noted that Caleb hardly said a word but was taking in the entire scene. She saw him stare down at all the silverware. Hadn’t he ever had a nice dinner before? Perhaps his home was only a small dairy farm and not at all what she’d envisioned.

As the food was passed around after Silas said grace, Caleb caught her eye. Cora lifted her fork, indicating which utensil to use. He blinked with a weak smile, then picked up the proper fork. She felt sorry for him and was once again reminded of her own privileged life. It was her heart’s desire to help people less fortunate.

She noticed that Sue kept eyeing Caleb all through dinner. As she passed him the green beans, Sue gave him another adoring look. “Mama,” she said in her sweet, childish voice, “I think I’ve fallen in love.” She stared at Caleb.

“What did you say, dear?” Her mother asked rather absentmindedly, pausing in her conversation with Jess.

“Truly I have.” Sue spoke louder, eyes wide with sincerity. “With Caleb,” she said with a wide grin and wide eyes.

Silas cleared his throat while Caleb nearly choked on a mouthful of food and grabbed a water glass. Cora stifled a giggle.

“Sue, just eat your dinner,” her father ordered, looking somewhat flustered. It was clear that he was in no way prepared for a declaration of love from his baby girl.

“He’s as handsome as your porcelain figurine on the fireplace mantel, Mama,” Sue went on in a dreamy tone. Then the child looked directly at Zach, saying in a thoughtful voice, “But I would never be so foolish as to fall in love with a porcelain doll. Would you, Zach? Greta looks like a porcelain doll.”

Greta blushed, and Cora wondered if the precocious child might just be speaking truths that were far beyond her age. What did the Bible say?
Out of the mouth of babes . . .
Cora glanced at Caleb, who just kept shoveling in the food under Silas’s watchful eye while Zach seemed to squirm visibly in his seat.

“That will be enough, young lady.” Annabelle gave her daughter a stern look to silence her.

The chattering around the table quieted a bit, though the young boys smothered laughs behind their napkins. Cora noticed a frown cross Zach’s handsome features as he choked out a response to the child.

“Well . . . er . . . you’re right, Greta is beautiful and delicate like porcelain,” he replied, pushing his fork nervously around his plate.

“
Ach!
Is that all you think about me—that I’m like a porcelain doll?” Greta asked. “There’s much more to me than my looks, Zach.” She slapped her napkin on the table.

Stephen and Joshua snickered and were met with a look from Silas that silenced them.

“I don’t—I mean, I know—” Zach sputtered. “I gave you flowers,” he finished lamely.

“It’s going to take a lot more than that, I’m afraid,” Greta said.

Sue turned her gaze on Jess. “So, what did you give Cora tonight since you’re courting her, Jess?”

Cora felt Jess’s body stiffen in the chair next to her. “Well, Sue . . . I guess the thought never occurred to me to, uh . . . give her something, but I wish I had.”

“Mama says wishing and doing are two different things, ain’t that right, Mama?”

Annabelle nodded helplessly.

Cora wondered whether it would have mattered to her if Jess
had
given her flowers.

Sue swung back to Caleb, tossing her braids. “I like you a lot,” she intoned. “But I have a question—are you a good man or a bad man?”

There was a sudden uncomfortable silence at the table. It was obvious to Cora that Sue had overheard her parents talking about the boy.

Caleb’s fork clattered to his plate. “Well . . . I—” His face was scarlet.

Jess spoke up. “Sue, I don’t know what you heard, but everyone deserves a second chance, and that includes Caleb. And I, for one, intend to see that he gets it.”

Annabelle’s face turned bright red. “Sue, your manners are sorely lacking. I’m going to ask you to leave the table if you don’t close your mouth except to eat!”

“Yes, Mama.” Sue cast her long lashes down at her plate.

Annabelle stood. “Anyone ready for that huckleberry cobbler now?”

Cora knew it would probably be a long while before Annabelle and Silas delivered any more dinner invitations to them. She also knew that it was bound to be a quiet ride home that night.

16

Greta had enjoyed dinner with the Meads and their children until Sue started her yammering about porcelain dolls. She was beginning to think that Zach wasn’t attracted to her for her mind. The idea made her stomach churn.

Once they were back in their room, she and Cora readied for bed. Cora had propped up on pillows to read her Bible, but moments later her chin fell against her chest in sound sleep. It had been a long day, but Greta was restless, so she slid out of bed, knelt down at her trunk, and quietly lifted the lid so as not to disturb Cora.

She reached into the corner and pulled out letters tied with blue ribbon. Her heart caught in her throat as she untied the ribbon and removed a letter. Running a shaking finger across her name on the envelope, she felt tears begin to sting her eyes.
Oh, Bryan . . . how I still miss you after all this time.
She opened the letter and read his words of love and the plans he had been making for them. Catharine had told her that first loves are profound, and Greta knew it to be true. She fingered the gold locket around her neck and stifled a sob in the sleeve of her nightgown.

“Greta?” Cora struggled to sit up. “I must have dropped off to sleep. Were you crying?”

Greta got up and climbed back into bed. “I’m sorry I disturbed you,” she said, sniffing. “You looked so peaceful.”

“Whatever is wrong?” Cora asked as she adjusted the covers around herself. “What do you have there?”