Debra Ullrick – Groom Wanted (страница 12)

“Our horses are trained to stand still when the reins are down, but I’ve never seen anyone do it like that before.”

“Yeah, well, I’m different.”

“That’s for sure.” A smile lit up her face.

It must have been lost on Jake because he whipped his head in her direction and his tone sounded defensive. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Oh. I see how that must have sounded, but I meant that as a compliment. Truly. That’s one of the things I like about you, Jake. You do things differently than most folks.”

“Like what?” His forehead wrinkled as he tied off the lines on her carriage.

“Well, for one, you keep that silly goat and put up with her silly antics when no one else would.”

“Yep. I do. ’Cause I know if I gave that little escape artist to someone else they would probably destroy her. That’s why I keep her.”

“Exactly. They would have put her down. And so you put up with all the trouble she causes rather than risk someone else destroying her.” Leah watched as he shrugged off her compliment. “You’re a softy when it comes to animals, Jake. That’s one of the things I admire about you. And another thing you do differently is... You asked another woman to help you pick out a wife. I don’t know anyone who’s ever done that. Do you?” She danced her eyebrows up at him and sent him a smirch of a smile.

“Got me there.” His lazy grin appeared. “Speaking of. We’d best get to it so we can get ready for Phoebe’s wedding.” Jake slipped the tied bundle of letters from her hand.

Under the clear blue sky the knee-high bunchgrass rustled as they walked through it side by side until they reached a large flat-topped boulder and sat down.

“Okay. What do we have here this time?” Leah pointed to the letters Jake held.

He untied the string and handed her the first one. Leah opened it and scrunched her face.

Jake leaned toward her. His breath brushed the hair near her ear, sending chills rushing up and down her back. Not understanding why that would happen, she turned her head, and her face was inches from his. Her gaze soared to his gray eyes. Eyes that searched hers, questioning hers, as her eyes did his.

A moment passed in which neither moved.

Then Jake pulled back, cleared his throat and looked straight ahead. Leah, realizing she hadn’t been breathing, drew in a long, quiet breath, wondering why her insides were suddenly fluttering.

* * *

Jake willed his heartbeat to return to normal. The urge to kiss his friend just now was so strong that he’d almost given in to it. Nothing good would have come from it, of that he was certain. And he would do nothing to risk his friendship with her.

No one understood him like she did.

No one accepted him just as he was like she did.

And no one filled his thoughts more than she did.

And therein lay the danger.

She was leaving soon.

It was time for him to find a wife. He looked back at her. “Well. Let’s get to it.”

Leah tilted her head. “Get to what?” Confusion infused her face.

Did she know he had been about to kiss her? If so, is that what she thought he meant? “The letters. Get to the letters.”

“Oh. Yes. Oh, um. Right. The letters.” Her attention dropped to the post in her hand. “I think we have to forget this one.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because.” She placed it under his view. “I can’t even read it.”

He squinted, trying to make out the sloppy cursive. He could make out only a few words. Saloon. Toothless. And ten babies. “Whoa!” He balled the letter up faster than he could say the word no.

“What?” Leah glanced at the wad in his hands.

“You don’t wanna know.”

“Well, now you’ve got me curious. Tell me?”

Reluctantly, he un-balled the letter and smoothed the wrinkles as best as he could. Heat drifted up the back of his neck as he pointed to each of the three words.

Leah’s eyes opened farther and farther with each one he pointed to. “Sweet twinkling stars above.” Her hands flew to her flushed cheeks, and her wide eyes darted to his. “Oh my.” She shook her head. “Oh my, my, my, my, my.”

“‘Oh my’ is right.” He took the letter from her and wadded it up again before he shoved it into his pocket to burn later. Apprehension and fear fisted inside him as he stared at the remaining pile. “Not sure I wanna do this anymore. Bad idea.”

“What’s a bad idea?” Leah’s color had returned to normal and she seemed to have recovered from the shock.

He wished he had. His gut was still being punched around. “Don’t think I want you to read anymore.”

“Why?”

His own eyebrows pointed upward. “Why? You ask me why after reading that letter?”

Leah’s lips quivered and her nostrils danced.

He watched, amused at her trying to hold back her laughter. His own lips now curled and twitched. Soon a belly laugh rolled out of him.

Leah’s hand rested on his arm and her sweet laughter joined his.

He didn’t know how long they laughed, but it was long enough that Leah had tears rolling from her eyes.

He would offer her his handkerchief, but it was too worn and would be too embarrassing. No need, anyway. She reached inside the pocket of her skirt and pulled a lace hankie out and dabbed at her eyes.

When they both had composed themselves, Leah asked, “What do you want to do with these?”

“Burn ’em!” he blurted.

They burst out laughing again.

“Seriously,” Leah said through a twitter. “What do you want to do with them?”

“Told you already. Burn ’em.”

She tilted her head. “Surely they can’t all be like her.”

He hiked a brow.

“Okay, Jake. Tell you what. I’ll turn my back to you and read them so you can’t see my face. If they’re bad, then I’ll slip them back into the envelope. If they aren’t, I’ll read them to you. Sound fair?”

After that last letter, he didn’t care what was in any of them. He no longer had any faith in this process. He’d rather remain single the rest of his life than marry a toothless woman who had worked in a saloon and wanted ten babies.

“Well, what do you think?”

“Think I’ll just forget the whole thing.”

Once again her hand rested on his arm and lingered there.

His attention trailed there and to the heat that now raced up his arm.

“Oh, sorry.” She yanked it back and rested her hand on her skirt. “You sure you want to do that, Jake? There might be some lovely ladies in here.” She patted the stack.

Debate did a roundup through his brain. He really wanted to get married, but some of the letters he’d received were downright scary. Okay, a few of them were. Still. Did he dare take a chance on one of them?

“Jake.” Leah’s soft voice reached his ears and he looked at her. “I know you’re scared. So am I. But if you don’t step out in faith, how will you ever know? Besides, like I said before, you can always have her come here before you make a decision. I mean, it isn’t like you have to marry her or anything before meeting her.” She shrugged. “What have you got to lose?”

Her words pinned his heart to the hard ground. It was once again obvious that she would never consider him. If she would, she wouldn’t have suggested he send for someone else. Is that what’s been holding me back? Hoping Leah would change her mind and marry me? Truth smacked him upside the head. That was it. Knowing that, he decided he might as well give it a try. “You’re right. Don’t have anything to lose. Okay. Open the next one.” If only she knew how hard those words were for him to say. When what he really wanted to say was, Are you sure you won’t reconsider my proposal and stay here? At least I know what you’re like. These other women are downright scary.

Leah pulled out the next one. One after another she read, and the second to the last one caught his attention.

Dear Mr. Lure,

My name is Raquel Tobias. I am a Christian woman looking for a Christian man to share my life with. I’m twenty-three years old, five foot seven, 130 pounds, with auburn hair and blue eyes. I’m currently residing in Chicago, taking care of my beloved Aunt Sally who encouraged me to not follow in her footsteps wishing she’d married. Therefore, I decided to take a chance by answering your advertisement.