Finally a Bride (43 page)

J
ack paced the parlor, waiting for her parents to finish tucking in the children for the night. Carly and Garrett had gone out walking, and Noah had been invited to supper with the Manns. She needed to talk to her folks while everyone else was occupied. The newest edition of the
Lookout Ledger
would be available tomorrow afternoon, and she had to tell them about the new hotel.

What would it mean to her family? Would they still have guests come and stay? Would they have to close their doors?

She twisted her hands, hating to be the one to break the news to them.

The railroad coming to town was a good thing, since it would bring growth and new businesses, cut down on travel times, bring more people to town, but the hotel …

Too many things were changing. She dropped down on the edge of the chair. Maybe she should get a job where she’d make some decent money. The piddling she got for her occasional articles barely paid for a new dress twice a year.

Her folks entered the parlor and sat down together on the settee. Luke laid his arm around her mother’s shoulder, and Jack couldn’t help wishing Noah had the freedom to do the same.

“What’s on your mind, Half Bit?”

“My guess is a man.” A teasing smile danced on her ma’s lips.

Luke swung his head toward his wife. “A man!”

Rachel elbowed him in the side. “Stop pretending you haven’t noticed how they look at one another.”

Luke’s mouth turned up on one side, and he scowled.

Jack’s heart pounded. She’d tried not to be obvious, but she had a hard time not looking at Noah when he sat across from her during meals. He must be who they were referring to, but then why would that make Luke unhappy? Did he object to her having a relationship with a minister? Who could be a better choice?

“So?” her ma said.

Jack folded her hands then unlocked them and straightened a crease in her skirt. She hated being the bearer of bad news. She glanced at her parents.

Luke leaned forward, knees on his elbows, intensely staring at her. “What’s wrong? Did Noah do something that made you uncomfortable?”

“What?” Jack blinked, trying to make sense of his unexpected question. “No! He’s never been anything but a gentleman.”

“Then tell us. You’ve got our minds running rampant.” Luke relaxed and sat back.

“I overheard something.” Jack jumped up and resumed her pacing. “And Jenny’s printing the story in tomorrow’s paper. I wanted y’all to know ahead of time, so it wouldn’t be such a shock.”

Luke sat up again. “What did you do?”

Jack grinned and shook her head. “It wasn’t me, this time.” She thought of how she’d hung from the saloon window and then fallen again but wasn’t about to mention that. “The railroad is coming to town. A spur track is being built from Denison to here.”

“Oh, that’s your news?” Luke exhaled a loud breath. “I already knew that.”

“You did? How?”

“The mayor told me. Said he wanted to be prepared for more people coming to town and was going to ask the town council to approve hiring two part-time deputies.”

“Truly?” Her ma gazed at Luke. “Then you wouldn’t have to work so much.” She reached over and squeezed his hand. “I love that idea.”

Jack sat down again, stunned that Luke already knew. “Why hasn’t the mayor announced it then?”

“He was afraid there’d be a run on land and that prices would soar.”

Jack frowned. Had the mayor purposely kept the news quiet so that he could profit? She’d heard he’d recently bought several lots on the east end of town—right where the hotel was going. “Do you already know about the hotel, too?”

Luke rubbed his jaw. “I wouldn’t be a very good lawman if I didn’t investigate the strangers who pass through my town.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Jack sat back, crossing her arms and pouting, not unlike Tessa.

“Wasn’t my news to tell. How did you find out?”

“Uh …” Jack swallowed hard. Nope, she couldn’t tell him. “I … uh … used my investigative skills.”

This time her ma sat up. “No more rooftops, I hope.”

“No.” Jack hated how her voice rose unnaturally. Even though she told the truth, guilt needled her for what she’d done. She needed to distract them before they questioned her further. “But if a hotel comes here, won’t that put us out of business?”

Luke glanced at her ma, who nodded. “It might. We’ve been talking about that and have decided it’s time to stop taking boarders.”

Jack’s mouth dropped open. The house would almost feel odd without people coming and going. Where would Noah live? If he moved, she wouldn’t see him as much. Wouldn’t get to talk to him while he sipped his morning coffee. Wouldn’t get to say good night each evening.

She listened to the crickets chirping outside the open window, already missing him.

“What’s going on in that creative mind of yours?”

“I’m … uh, just shocked—and disappointed that you already know my news. I thought I’d gotten a big scoop—even Jenny was surprised. Who else knows?”

Luke shrugged. “Probably just the town council. Your story will be news to most folks.”

Jack settled back in her chair. “Yeah, I suppose. But how will we get by without the additional income?”

“We’re not destitute, Half Bit. The house is paid for, plus when your ma and I got married, I had most of my army pay saved and invested. With the railroad coming to town, Garrett’s business will slack off. He and I are going to buy some brood mares and a quality stallion and start raising stock horses. We’re already looking for a section of land that’s not too far from town, where Carly and he can live after they marry.” He took a deep breath, then continued. “Your ma has enough to do with just caring for the family and this big home. You sound disappointed.”

“No. Just mulling things over.” Suddenly a pleasing thought dashed through her mind. “If we aren’t taking in boarders, can I have my own room?” She grinned and waggled her eyebrows.

Hope sparked in her ma’s eyes, taking Jack by surprise again. “Does that mean you’re not going to Dallas?”

They knew? About the letter? Were all her secrets public knowledge? She jumped up, flinging her arms out sideways. “Did Jenny spill the beans? Nobody else knew.”

“No.” Her ma bit the edge of her lower lip. “I went upstairs to check on Abby yesterday, and she’d gotten in your lap desk. She had the letter and was just getting ready to write on the paper.” She ducked her head. “I shouldn’t have read your letter, but I was too curious not to. I’m sorry for that, but”—she glanced up with wounded eyes—”how could you even consider such a thing without talking to us? Do you have any idea what it’s like in a city that large?”

Luke patted her ma’s shoulder. “Now, Rach, I’ve been to Dallas several times, and it’s not a bad town.”

The look her ma gave Luke could have boiled frozen water. “Whose side are you on?”

“Nobody’s—I mean both of you. Jack’s not an ordinary young lady.”

“But she
is
a woman—and no woman should go off alone to a big city. Who would protect her?” Her ma blinked her eyes several times, then looked at Jack again with a watery gaze. “What about Noah? I thought something was developing between you two.”

Jack fidgeted in her chair. She might have been oblivious to hurting her ma when she was young and half wild, but she didn’t like it now. “I was going to tell you. In fact, that was one of the things I wanted to talk about tonight. I’ve decided to turn down the job offer and stay here.”

“Really?” Ma smiled and wiped her eyes with the hanky she’d pulled from her pocket. “I know that must have been a hard decision since you’ve wanted to be a reporter for so long.”

Jack shrugged. In truth, she hadn’t made her final decision until she’d seen how upset the thought of her leaving made her ma. What job compared to love of family?

“So, does Noah have anything to do with your staying?” Ma asked.

Jack stared out the window into the twilight. “Maybe.”

No, more than maybe—most definitely. But for some reason, she was uncomfortable saying so in front of Luke. He’d grown quiet, which meant he was stewing on something.

“You’d make a good pastor’s wife.”

“Ma!”

“Rachel!”

Both Jack and Luke spoke at once.

Luke stood and started pacing the room. “Don’t you think it’s a bit too soon to be talking like that?”

Rachel grinned. “It’s springtime, and love is in the air. Look at the Kesslers—and Garrett and Carly.”

Luke snorted. “And what about the Lord? Does He still have a say in our lives?”

Rachel fluffed the pillow Luke had been leaning on. “Of course. I’ve prayed about the man Jacqueline would marry for much of her life. I knew God would bring the right man in His timing.”

Jack just stared at her mother. How could she be so confident? Was she actually voicing her approval for a union between her and Noah?

“All that matters is that you’ve prayed about your relationship with Noah and that you love him.”

Luke grunted and ran his hand through his hair. What was wrong with him? She thought he liked Noah.

“I have prayed.” Jack’s gaze darted to her ma and back to Luke. His behavior was making her uneasy. “I—care for him.”

Luke kicked a table leg, whether accidentally or on purpose, she wasn’t sure. Her ma gave him a curious glance. “And I believe he cares deeply for you.”

“It’s too soon,” Luke said. “You’ve only known him a few weeks. How can you care for him that much?”

Jack shrugged again. “I can’t explain it. From the first moment I looked into his eyes, I felt something—as if we’d been bound together for a lifetime.”

Rachel hugged the pillow. “I know just what you mean. I felt that about Luke when I first met him, too.”

“You were in first grade, Rachel. How can you remember that?”

“A woman just does.” She batted her lashes and gave him a coy smile.

Luke finally stopped in front of Jack, and she had to lean back to see his puckered brow. “Has Noah talked to you?”

Jack opened her mouth to respond, but paused, baffled by his question. “Uh … we talk everyday.”

“That’s not what I mean.” Luke’s hand lowered to where his gun normally rested, then he closed his fist. Something was definitely bothering him, but she had no idea what it could be.

Luke squatted and looked her in the eye. “You promise me—before you let your feelings for him grow any more—that you’ll have a heart-to-heart talk with him. Tell him he’d better tell you everything—or he’ll answer to me.”

Jack glanced at her ma, seeing the same confusion she felt. Luke bounced up and strode out of the room and down the hall. What was the “everything” he was referring to?

The front door opened, and Noah strode in, his eyes shining. He shut the door, removed his hat, and noticed them. He walked into the room with a wide grin pulling at his cheeks. “Evening, I just got some rather exciting news—at least it seems that way to me.”

Her ma lifted one brow. “Oh, and what is that?”

Noah sat down on the edge of the chair next to Jack’s. She studied each detail of his handsome face. His eye was all healed except for a faint bruise, and a slight red mark remained just above his lip from the cut. His nose was perfectly straight, and dark stubble made him even more appealing. His beautiful eyes beamed. How could this kind-hearted man be hiding a secret so bad that it would send Luke into a tizzy?

Noah leaned toward her. “The Taylors have decided not to return to Lookout. The town council offered me a permanent position and use of the parsonage.”

He was staying! Jack’s heart leapt for joy. She jumped up and almost hugged him, then remembered her ma was still in the room. “That’s wonderful news.”

Rachel also stood and clapped her hands. “Yes, that is. I’ll miss the Taylors, but I know they’ve wanted to move back home for a long while. Do you mind if I tell Luke?”

Noah shook his head, and she left the room, leaving them alone. He reached out and took Jackie’s hand. “Are you happy?”

She looked happy but not delirious, as he’d hoped. When he first heard the news, he’d wanted to flee the Manns’ home and run back here to tell Jackie, but he couldn’t. He had to sit quietly and listen to what they expected: no more preaching about pelicans and the discussion about his salary, which was a decent amount plus the offer to use the parsonage. All the time, every part of his being was bouncing.

“I am happy.” She squeezed his hand and smiled.

“But?”

She broke his gaze and shrugged.

“Don’t you know what this means, Jackie? I have the support of the town council, a home, and a salary that I can support a family on—if we’re careful.”

“We?” She stared up at him, her blue eyes looking enormous.

Did she not yet know his heart? Or maybe she didn’t feel the same. He knew little of women and their ways. Had he misread her?

He closed his eyes. He wanted to obey God and do His work, but if she didn’t share his feelings, how could he stay here?

He’d thought God was answering his dream and giving him this opportunity. More than he ever hoped for. Much more than he deserved.

But without her …

“I’m thrilled, Noah, but there’s something I have to know. What is in your past that you don’t want to tell me about?”