Finally a Bride (37 page)

“If that grin on your face means what I think, I’d say you’ve got a right to be proud. I’ve not heard hide nor hair about a hotel being built here. How does your ma feel about it?”

Jack sucked in her top lip. What would Jenny say if she knew that it was Noah on her mind and not the article? “I haven’t told her yet. I don’t know how.”

Jenny lifted one brown brow. “You’d better tell her before the paper comes out.”

“I will.”

“Good job on this. It ought to stir up a lot of talk around town.”

Jack nodded. “Probably so.”

Jenny reached in a drawer and pulled out a letter, a tiny smile dancing on her lips. She held it as if it were something special, then handed it to Jack “I admit to having mixed feelings about giving you this, but I have a surprise.”

Curiosity bolted through her as fast as a horse off a starting line. Her heart flip-flopped. The wrinkled envelope addressed to Jenny Evans had
Dallas Morning News
imprinted in the upper left corner. She ran her thumb over the embossed letters, her hand shaking. Could this actually be the realization of her dream? Her gaze lifted to Jenny, whose mouth stretched into a wide smile. “Go ahead, open it.”

She pulled the paper from the envelope and nearly dropped it. She lifted the top of the page and began reading:

Dear Jenny
,

Thank you for your letter recommending Jacqueline Davis as a reporter for the
Dallas Morning News.
I have read over the clippings you sent and am impressed with Miss Davis’s writing skill and creative talent for recording details while keeping the story interesting. Coming from a small town, she would have a fresh perspective on life in Dallas
.

I’ve discussed Miss Davis with my superiors, and we are prepared to offer her a position in our Home Living Section. Should she accept the position, she will be responsible for posting a recipe each issue, researching and discussing new and innovative products that women could use in their homes, and covering fashion trends
.

Jack’s hopes sank. “What do I know of fashion? I’d never wear a dress if it was socially acceptable for a woman to wear pants.”

“Just keep reading.”

Not quite as enthused as a moment ago, she started reading again:

If Miss Davis proves herself, as I believe she will based on your recommendation, we can discuss moving her into a more challenging position in the future. Just one thing, I can hold this position only until the end of the month, so please inform Miss Davis to contact me at her earliest convenience should she desire it
.

As always, if you’re in Dallas, Jenny, be sure to stop in and allow me to take you to eat. We have some delightful cafés here
.

Your friend,
Amanda Jones Bertram

Jack stared at the letter, trying to make sense of her roiling emotions.

Yes—she had a job offer from a Dallas newspaper.

No—it wasn’t the job she wanted.

Yes—there was the potential to one day become a news reporter.

But did she truly want to leave her family? To leave Noah?

In less than three weeks?

Jenny leaned back in her chair, her mouth twisted to one side and brows lifted. Jack sincerely hoped her less-than-enthusiastic response didn’t offend Jenny.

“Tell me what’s going on in that creative mind of yours. I know the Home Living Section isn’t what you had your heart set on, but I halfway expected you to be packing your bags by now.”

She had no idea how to answer her friend. Stalling, she blew out a heavy breath and read the missive again.

“Humph. It’s a man, isn’t it?”

Jack glanced up as her pulse jumped. “What?”

A knowing smile softened Jenny’s face. “You’ve met someone, and now you’re not so sure you want to leave town.”

“How do you know?”

“What else would stop a determined young woman like you from chasing her dream once it’s finally within reach?”

“What should I do?”

Jenny shrugged. “Only you can decide that.” She suddenly leaned forward, eyes narrowed. “But tell me who the man is. I may be the newspaper editor, but you really slipped the wool over my eyes on this story.”

Jack tried hard to control the embarrassed smile that twittered on her lips, but she couldn’t. “It all happened rather fast.”

“Surely it’s not that Billy Morgan.”

She shuddered at the thought of it. “Certainly not. Though if he had his way, we’d be married tomorrow. I can’t seem to get it through his head that I’m not interested.”

“Then who is it?”

“I don’t know if I should say. I’m not sure where things are headed.”

“And yet it’s serious enough for you to consider not following your dream to Dallas.”

“I suppose.”

Jenny lowered her head for a few moments, then looked at Jack again. “I know you’re independent-minded and don’t care for folks telling you what to do, but if you have some young man interested, one who can support you and cares about you, that’s a far better choice than working your feet and fingers to the bone, trying to sniff out stories for a paper.”

Jack’s mouth fell open. “I never thought I’d hear you vote for marriage over work.”

“I’ve lived alone for a long while and had time to reflect on things. I love my work, but as you get older, you think more about marriage and children. If I could do things over, I’m not certain I’d do them the same, but that’s water under the bridge.”

“You’re not too old to get married.”

Jenny snorted a laugh. “I’m too set in my ways. Besides, we’re not talking about me. What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know.”

“Maybe you should talk to your folks and get some advice. ‘Course, neither one will like the idea of you running off to Dallas. And mind me, I
will
find out who your beau is.”

Jack knew she would. Jenny was good at her job. Hadn’t Jenny taught her all that she knew about reporting?

“I’d better get back home. Ma will be needing my help.” She held the letter to her chest. “I can’t thank you enough for this, Jenny.”

Her friend swatted her hand in the air. “Glad to help, although I don’t know what I’ll do without you.”

Jack smiled and stepped outside. The May sun shone bright, promising another beautiful day. Wildflowers had popped up along the edges of the boardwalk, adding color to the barren dirt street.

She felt as if she were being pulled in two directions at once, both having tremendous possibilities. The job in Dallas would mean a whole new life. A big city. New friends. New adventures.

But how could she leave her family?

How could she not watch Andrew learn to crawl? To talk?

And what about Noah?

She hadn’t known him long, but he sparked something inside her that she’d never felt before. He made her want to be a woman for the first time in her life. To try hard to be a better person.

As she crossed Bluebonnet Lane, she couldn’t help wondering which side of the tug-of-war would win.

Chapter 27

J
ack was glad Jenny was such an early riser and had been at her office before breakfast. Waiting any longer to turn in her story would have been difficult. She reached for the doorknob of her house. A shrill scream suddenly rent the quiet morning. She spun around, frantically searching Main Street. Nothing looked out of place. A wagon was parked in front of the livery, but no one was on the street or boardwalk. What had happened?

Jenny burst out of the newspaper office, as did several other shop owners, each one looking around. It was far too early to be a saloon girl’s phony squeal when chased by an eager cowboy. Besides, the scream had sounded real—as if someone had been harmed or frightened out of their wits.

Agatha Linus stumbled from between Dolly’s Dress Shop and the Corbett Freight office. Jack hurried down the steps of her home, stuffing the letter from the
Dallas Evening News
into her waistband. She hiked her skirts and ran down the street, hoping her ma didn’t see her.

Aggie wobbled, then reached for the dress shop’s porch railing and collapsed against it. One hand covered her eyes; her head hung down. Was she crying? Hurt?

“Please, help me.” She shuddered and dropped onto the boardwalk steps.

Jack rushed to her side, as did Jenny and several others. “What’s wrong, Mrs. Linus? Are you ill?”

She swiped her eyes with her fingertips then reached out her hand, and Jack took hold of it. “Oh, Jacqueline, it’s dreadful. I—I fear my sister is dead.”

Jack’s heart jolted. It had been a long while since someone in their community had died. “Bertha is dead? How? What happened?”

“I’ll get the doctor to come and check her,” said Mr. Mann, who had been eating at Polly’s Café and still had his napkin tucked in his shirt like a bib. He took off at a quick clip down the street.

Aggie shook her head. “It’s all my fault, you see. I was feeling poorly and slept late. I should have been up to fix Bertha’s breakfast. She does like her biscuits and jam of a morning.”

Jack glanced at Jenny, who gave a shrug and quick shake of her head, as if she couldn’t make any sense out of the connection between breakfast and Bertha, either. There had to be more to the story.

Jack glanced over her shoulder and noticed Tessa standing just outside the mercantile door. “Tessa!” She waved her hand to catch her friend’s attention. “Could you run over and see if Luke is still at home?”

Tessa glanced across the street at them as if she didn’t want to miss anything, then nodded. She untied her apron, tossed it inside the store, and hurried to the boardinghouse.

Jack patted Aggie’s wrinkled hand. She was as thin as her sister was wide.

Aggie, normally a shy, refined woman, sucked in a hiccupy sob. “Oh, what will I do without her?”

Shifting her feet to a more comfortable position, Jack couldn’t help thinking Aggie would live a more peaceful life without her gossiping sister, who constantly ordered her around, but as soon as the thought breached her mind, she cast it off as not Christian. Her heart ached for Aggie, and her chest swelled with compassion. The woman had lost her husband years ago, and now she may have lost her sister.

The thud of quick footsteps drew her gaze up, and Jack’s pulse soared. Right behind Luke, Noah followed, looking concerned. His black eye had faded to a greenish-yellow tone, and the cuts from his fight with Billy had healed. His gaze collided with hers. She felt that connection—two separate beings that belonged together—soul mates.

“All right, move back, folks and let me through.” Luke pushed his way into the crowd and squatted in front of Aggie. Noah stopped beside Jack, so close their arms touched when she moved. The back of his hand brushed against hers. Jack’s throat clogged, making it harder to breathe.

“Tell me what happened, Miss Aggie.” Luke pushed his hat back on his forehead, as if to see her better.

“I don’t know. I came downstairs a bit later than normal and found Bertha lying on the kitchen floor.” Her lower lip wobbled, and tears ran down her wrinkled cheeks. “Th–there was b–blood on the floor. My sister’s blood.” Aggie covered her eyes again, her shoulders shaking from her sobs.

Luke glanced up at Jack. “Take her back to our house, and let your ma tend her.”

“No!” Aggie’s hand snaked out and latched onto Luke’s arm. “I need to be with Bertha.”

Luke covered her hand with his. “Are you certain?”

Aggie nodded, and he helped her to stand. He caught Jack’s eye, and she hurried to Aggie’s other side.

“The rest of you folks go on back to whatever you were doing. You’ll know soon enough what happened.”

“I … I’d like the reverend to come along, Marshal.”

Luke nodded at Noah, and he fell in step behind them. Jenny jogged up to Luke. “I want to come, too.”

He shook his head. “Not right now, Jenny.”

Scowling, Jenny caught Jack’s eye, and she knew that her friend expected to hear every little detail later on. Jack gave her a brief nod, but for once, she had no desire to write a story. Shouldn’t Aggie be allowed to grieve before the details were splattered across the paper for the whole county to see? Why had she never considered how covering the news might actually emotionally wound the people involved?

They cut between buildings and went in Aggie’s back door. Though Jack had visited Aggie and Bertha with her ma and had been in the parlor previously, she had never been in their kitchen. On the counter, several canisters were overturned with sugar and coffee spilling out. The pantry door lay open, revealing a mess with containers and jars sitting haphazard on the shelves, while others lay strewn all over the floor. Something definitely wasn’t right here. Bertha may not be the tidiest person around, but Aggie most surely was.