Victoria Bylin – Brides of the West: Josie's Wedding Dress / Last Minute Bride / Her Ideal Husband (страница 11)

The dress was as lovely as ever, but Josie could barely remember the girl who’d made it. She’d been so young…so naive. When Ty confessed concerns about money, she’d blithely told him not to worry. Now she knew that cattle died and mortgages came due.

“I was such a child,” she said to the mirror. Ty hadn’t been much older. They’d both been kids, but he’d understood money in a way she hadn’t. As a boy he’d gone hungry. As a man he’d been determined to take care of her. He’d gone after the horses for a better reason than pride. He really had done it for them, though he’d also done it against her wishes.

A soft knock sounded on the door. “Josie?”

It was Mama. “Come in,” Josie called.

The door opened with a creak. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine,” she said. “Just confused.”

“About Ty?”

“Yes, but I’m starting to understand. Come in and sit on the bed. I want to show you something.”

Mama walked five spaces to the mahogany bedstead and sat on the feather quilt. Josie approached her with the dress in hand, holding the skirt out to her. “Feel this.”

Her mother ran her hands along the silk skirt, then touched a puffed sleeve and finally the row of pearl buttons. Her breath caught. “It’s your wedding dress.”

“I haven’t looked at it in five years.”

“Why now?”

“Because Ty asked me to forgive him.” Josie sat next to her, hugging the dress. “I want to, but it’s hard.”

“I used to be angry about my eyes,” Mama said in a quiet tone. “And I was angry about your father dying. He’d been having pains in his chest for weeks. I wanted him to hire help, but he refused.”

“I didn’t know.”

“And Nate…my only son.” Her voice hitched. “Was I angry when he died? Oh, Josie. You can’t begin to know. Every day I had to fight the bitterness.”

“How?”

“I thanked God for the sunshine, for bread and butter, for everything good. Mostly I thanked him for you.” Mama touched the dress. “May I pray for you?”

“Yes… Please.”

“Father God, You know Josie’s heart. You know the disappointment and the hurt. We pray You’ll fill her heart with peace, and that she finds forgiveness for Ty. And Lord, we thank You for bringing Ty to us exactly when we needed him most. We ask You to bless him. Amen.”

“Amen,” Josie echoed.

As the words faded to a memory, Josie felt a sudden lightness in her body. She’d meant every word of her mother’s prayer. She was glad Ty had come back. Tears of relief filled her eyes, and the hardness in her chest disappeared with a single deep breath. She felt like laughing—really laughing—for the first time in ages. She’d forgiven Ty at last. He deserved to hear it, but what did amends mean for the future? Forgiving him and trusting him were two different things. Falling in love again was altogether different, but she couldn’t deny the thoughts crossing her mind. Nor could she deny another truth. Ty had hurt her first, but she’d hurt him back by not writing to him. Ty wasn’t the only person who had amends to make. So did Josie.

“Mama?” She squeezed her mother’s hand. “How would you like to help me bake some sugar cookies?”

“Aren’t those Ty’s favorite?”

“I believe so.”

The older woman smiled. “I’d love to help.”

Josie liked the idea of surprising Ty with a basket of goodies. He’d said not to bother with supper, but she intended to bring him a basket with a meal and dessert. She’d also write him a note, one that would make them friends again. Feeling at peace, she hung the dress where she could see it. She didn’t know what the future held, but for the first time in years, she wouldn’t go to bed angry.

Chapter Six

Between last night and this morning, Ty had eaten eight cookies. He’d also read Josie’s note a dozen times. I forgive you. Can you forgive me? She’d signed it with a “J,” the way she used to sign notes when they were friends, and later when they were courting. He welcomed her forgiveness, but what did the cookies mean? Sugar cookies were the first things she’d baked for him, and they brought back memories. Good ones. The kind that made him want to admit to loving her, even though he had no way on earth to support her.

Standing at the pasture fence, he ate a golden cookie while Smoke nibbled grass. Josie’s forgiveness tasted sweet indeed, but the second half of her note confused him. Why had she asked him for forgiveness? He saw no need.

“Good morning.”

He turned and saw her walking up the path. When she worked in the barn, she wore coveralls. Today she had on a blue calico with tiny yellow flowers. She looked prettier than ever, while he had less than ever to give her. “Good morning.” He indicated the half-eaten cookie. “I got your note. Thank you.”

“I mean it.” Not only did a smile appear on her pretty face, her cheeks blushed pink. “I forgive you, Ty. I hope you can forgive me.”

“For what?”

“Not writing to you in jail. For going silent when we should have spoken. For holding a grudge.” She looked into his eyes. “Last night I realized what I child I was. We were both so young. I still disagree with the decision you made, but I can understand it now.”

“Like you said, we were kids back then.”

“Yes.” She stepped to his side and rested her hands on the fence. “I’ve put that day behind me, but what that means for the future—for us—I don’t know.”

He wanted to say it meant a fresh start. He wanted to take her in his arms and remind her of what they once had. But he didn’t have that right. He was an ex-con with ten dollars to his name. He had a strong back and a way with horses but not much else. He certainly didn’t have the means to support Josie and Mrs. Bright. Her forgiveness could mean only one thing. “So we’re friends again,” he said.

“Yes, but it feels strange.”

It felt strange to Ty, too. When it came to Josie, he had old feelings and new ones, romantic thoughts and no money in his pocket. “A lot’s happened in a short time.”

She looked at him with a confusion that mirrored his own. “We both need to take things slow.”

“That’s smart,” he agreed.

With her fingers laced on the top rail, she looked at Smoke. “I missed you as much as your horse did. Being friends again will be nice.”

Ty agreed, but not fully. Friendship struck him as pale compared to the love they’d once shared. It was bread when he wanted cake. It would satisfy him, but he wanted more…he wanted to love her again. Looking out to the pasture, he had a sense of being back behind bars. Instead of steel, they were made of his inability to support her, but they were as real as the ones in prison. He wanted to break free, but he didn’t see a way.

Josie still had her eyes on the horse. “The race is in two weeks. How’s Smoke doing?”

“Good.”

“So we have a shot at winning?”

He liked how we sounded, but he had to remember his place. “He’s your horse and I’m a hired hand. It’s your race, Josie. I’m just riding in it.”

“I have two things to say.” She sounded like the boss. “Smoke belongs to you. Nate bought him for a song because no one else could ride him. I’ll sell him back to you for the money I owe you for paying Obie and Gordie.”

The price was fair to both of them. “It’s a deal.”

“Good.”

He hesitated, then said, “But I’m not splitting the prize money.”

“Ty—”

“I don’t want to argue.” He turned to look at her and wished he hadn’t. She seemed to look right through him. “It’s not pride, Josie. I owe you.”

“I thought forgiveness wiped the slate clean.”

“It does.”

“Then why won’t you take your share?”

“You need it.”

“So do you,” she countered. “Don’t you have plans for the future? With five-hundred dollars you could get a fresh start somewhere…even here in Rock Creek.”

Had she just asked him to stick around for a while? Neither of them were ready to go past being friends, but they’d once been in love and they hadn’t forgotten those feelings. If Ty owned Smoke, he could justify taking half the prize money. If he gave it to Josie after the race, he’d feel like part owner of the Bar JB. He could think about courting her. No, he corrected himself, he could do more than think about it…he could romance her like he’d done when they were kids.

“All right,” he agreed. “We’ll split it.”

“So we’re partners now.”

“Business partners,” he confirmed.

Smiling sweetly, she offered her hand. Ty took it, but they didn’t shake on the deal and break apart. They stood with their fingers touching and their eyes asking questions of themselves and each other. Ty thought of the time he’d let her down, broke the grip and looked away.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.