Blackstone's Bride (14 page)

Jarrod shook his head. “No, ma’am. She’s still alive, far as I know. Things just didn’t work out.”

“I’ve got chores to do in the kitchen,” Henrietta said. “Why don’t you folks sit down and visit awhile. Take all the time you need.”

“Thanks, Hettie,” Jarrod said. “Appreciate you introducing us to Miss Gibson.”

“Call me Nita, please.”

Abby called after the smaller woman, “I’ll see you later, Henrietta.”

Jarrod sat beside the woman on the sofa. “So, Nita, how long are you planning to stay in Hollister?”

“Permanently. If I can find work.”

Or a husband, Abby silently added.

Lily cleared her throat. “It must be a lot different than Kansas.”

Nita laughed. “Indeed it is.”

“Are you sure you’ll like it enough to stay on?” Abby asked. “After all, it wouldn’t be good for the children to get used to you, then have you up and leave.”

The blond toyed with the wisp of hair near her cheek as
she looked at Jarrod. “I’d never do that to them. Children need stability, especially after their loss. My condolences to you, Mr. Blackstone.”

“Call me Jarrod.”

“Thank you, Jarrod,” she answered shyly.

Abby snapped a look at him. She had known him for years before he got that friendly with her. He’d just met this woman, and invited her to use his given name. He’d done the same with Bea. Only that hadn’t bothered her. She didn’t want to look too closely at why it did with
Miss
Nita Gibson.

Abby released a big sigh. “Miss Gibson—”

“Please call me Nita. And if I may call you Abby?”

Abby nodded grudgingly. “The ranch is pretty far from town.”

The woman laughed, a sweet, musical sound that grated on Abby’s nerves. “I’m a farm girl. Where I come from, the nearest town is several hours away. That’s nothing new for me.”

“That’s good,” Jarrod said, standing. “Why don’t you spend a little time getting acquainted with the children?”

“I’d like that. How about you?” she asked, looking at the four youngsters.

They all nodded.

Jarrod took Abby’s elbow. “C’mon with me to the mercantile. I’ll buy you a licorice whip.”

They walked out onto the boardwalk, and the spring sunshine warmed Abby’s shoulders. Too bad it couldn’t reach the part inside her that was chilled, she thought. She pulled her hat down to shade her eyes. Beside her, Jarrod stared thoughtfully at the building where the children were.

“What did you think of her?” he asked.

“She seems like a lovely woman.” As much as Abby wanted to say otherwise, she couldn’t.

“I thought so too. Wonder if she can read and write,” he mused.

“When you grow up on a farm that far from town, it’s not likely there was a teacher anyplace nearby.”

“Hmm. From the way she talks, she seems genteel and I’d guess she’s had some book learning. If not, I could always do some lessons with the kids in the evenings.”

Abby’s eyes narrowed on him. “What about all the work you have on the ranch?”

“Can’t do it after dark anyway.”

“I thought you were too tired. All of a sudden you’ve got the time and the energy?”

“If I don’t have to get up with Katie during the night, I’ll have plenty of energy.”

Abby wanted to ask him plenty of energy for what, but held her tongue. “Katie slept straight through last night,” she said defensively.

“Good. Maybe she’s beginning to get more comfortable here.”

“At least with me.” Abby folded her arms over her chest and looked at him.

A half smile lifted one corner of his mouth as he studied her. “Something eating you, Abby?”

“‘Course not,” she said, a little too quickly.

“I thought you said you liked Nita.”

“For all I know of her, I do.”

“You don’t seem very enthusiastic about her.”

Abby shrugged. “You’re excited enough for the both of us.”

With a knuckle, he pushed his hat back and stared down at her, hands on his hips. His eyes sparkled with amusement. “I’ll be damned,” he said, shaking his head.

“What? Why?”

“You’re jealous.”

She snorted. “You’re crazy.”

“Nope. You’re jealous of Nita Gibson. I’m flattered.”

“That’s the dumbest thing I ever heard.”

“Then what’s bothering you, Abby? There’s not one good reason I can see not to hire her. Here and now,” he said.

She put her hands on her hips and glared at him. “Can’t you tell when a female has something on her mind besides a job?”

“You think she’s dishonest?” he asked. But Abby saw the look in his eyes and knew he was baiting her. She
was
jealous, and the fact that he knew it irritated her.

“No, I don’t think she’s dishonest,” she snapped. “And why in the world you’d think I care whether or not the two of you make cow eyes at each other is beyond me.”

“Then you have some doubts about her. I’d like to hear them. Not that you’ve ever been shy before about telling me what you think.”

“I don’t know,” she said, glancing over her shoulder at the boardinghouse behind them. Abby couldn’t help wishing that the kids had liked Bea Peters and she was already working for him. “Nita just seemed too prim and prissy to take care of four children. Even if she did grow up on a farm.”

“How do you think the kids took to her?”

Probably the way Jarrod had, like ducks to water, Abby thought. But she said, “I couldn’t really tell. They were pretty quiet. You never said what you thought of her.”

“She seemed all right to me,” he said. A typical male understatement, given the way his eyes lit up at the sight of her. “Guess we’ll just have to wait and see how the kids feel.”

Henrietta shot a glare
at Bea Peters as they shared a piece of fresh corn bread in the boardinghouse kitchen. “Nita Gibson is a smart, sweet, lovely girl. How did you know those kids wouldn’t take to her?”

Bea smiled that know-it-all look that made Henrietta so mad she could spit. “They have already decided to reject anyone but Abby. I saw that right away when I went out to the ranch.”

“So why put Nita through that?”

Bea laughed. “She knew all about it ahead of time and was delighted to play along.”

“How come you didn’t see fit to tell me?” Henrietta was truly affronted now. Bea could tell a total stranger what was going on, but not her?

“You and Jarrod are thick as thieves. I know you, Hen. You’re susceptible to his, shall we say, exceptional good looks.”

“And you’re not?” the smaller woman shot back, not bothering to deny it.

“I can’t imagine a woman still able to draw a breath not being susceptible. But since I’m old enough to be his”—she hesitated a moment—”very attractive older sister, I suppose I’m no exception.”

Henrietta put her chin in her palm as she picked at the corn bread on her plate. “I’ve always thought if I were a foot taller—”

“And twenty years younger—”

“That too.” She heaved a big sigh. “My Clyde’s been gone ten years now. That’s a long time to warm a bed by yourself.”

“Neither one of us is suitable marriage material for Jarrod Blackstone. We are straying from the topic, Hen,” Bea said in her best teacher’s voice.

“You’re right. So the kids have decided ahead of time not to like anyone they meet?”

“Precisely.”

“How are they gonna convince Jarrod to hire Abby?”

“Just about now, Lily is going to suggest it to him.”

“And how is he gonna convince Abby to take the job?”

Bea smiled. “I’ve put the word out. No one in Hollister will take that job. Desperation gives a man a silver tongue.”

“I hope you’re right, Bea.” Henrietta shook her head. “Abby Miller is as stubborn as they come.”

Jarrod stared at the four children sitting on the sofa in Hettie’s parlor. “What did you do to make her turn down the job?”

“She didn’t take it?” Lily asked eagerly. Then she demurely folded her hands in her lap. “We didn’t do anything to her. Maybe she doesn’t like boys.”

“How can you know that?” he asked.

“Ask Tom and Oliver. They’re the ones who said it.”

Jarrod turned his gaze on his nephews. “Well?”

Tom glanced at Oliver and rolled his eyes when his younger brother popped his thumb in his mouth. He concluded that made him the spokesman for both of them.

“It’s hard t’explain, Uncle Jarrod,” Tom said, squirming as he put his hands between his knees.

“Try,” Jarrod said through gritted teeth.

“It’s more of a feelin’ me ‘n’ Oliver got.”

“What kind of feeling?”

“The way she was dressed ‘n’ all, so fine and ladylike. We just sorta think she don’t have any use for boys. Bet she doesn’t know nothin’ about horses.”

“She could learn,” Jarrod said. “Horses and boys aren’t so different. I could talk to her again and try to change her mind. Girls? What about you? Do you think you’d feel comfortable with her?” he asked, looking at Katie.

Her forehead wrinkled thoughtfully before she shook her head.

“What do you think is wrong with her?”

“She snorts when she laughs.”

Jarrod let out a long steadying breath. He was trying real hard not to lose his temper again. “I thought she had a very nice laugh.”

“You weren’t here the whole time.” Katie stuck her bottom lip out. She hadn’t missed the exasperation in his tone.

He ran his hand through his hair. “You have met three very suitable ladies. I don’t understand what the problem is.”

“There’s no problem, Uncle Jarrod.” Lily looked at him calmly. “At least nothing that Abby couldn’t handle.”

Jarrod walked into the Hollister Freight office and looked around. Earl Whittemore sat behind a paper-cluttered desk in the corner of the room. Barrels, wooden crates, and odds and ends were scattered around the rest of the space.

“Earl?”

The company owner, a big man with a belly hanging over the waistband of his pants, looked up. “Well I’ll be. Jarrod Blackstone. What brings you in here? Don’t recollect an order for you.”

Jarrod shook his head. “I’m not expecting anything. I came to see Abby. Is she here?”

The other man gestured toward the rear of the building. “Out back. She took it into her head that the storage shed needed straightening. I never argue with Abby when she makes up her mind about somethin’.”

“Is there ever a good time to argue with Abby?”

Earl laughed and his belly shook like hotcake batter slapped on the griddle. With his thumb and forefinger he smoothed his thick mustache over his lip and down the sides of his mouth. “Got a point there, Jarrod. Still, I can’t hardly complain. Abby’s the best worker I ever had.”

“She’s conscientious and stubborn. I’ll give her that.”

“What’d you want to see her about?”

“Come to offer her a job.”

“The hell you say.” Earl looked mighty curious. “Doing what?”

“Housekeeper.”

Earl nodded. “Heard tell Sally passed on and y’got her kids with ya. Sorry t’hear that, Jarrod. I can see why you need some help. But Abby?” He shook his head skeptically.

“It’s a long story, Earl. But I aim to do my best to take Abby away from you.”

“I don’t think ya can. But you’re welcome t’try.” The big man grinned good-naturedly.

“Thanks.”

Jarrod opened the back door. He spotted Abby instantly, just a few feet away, standing in the shade of the shed. Head tipped back, she drank from a dipper and water trickled down, spotting her cotton shirt. Where moisture soaked in, the material was almost transparent. A droplet clung to her full bottom lip and she licked it away.

Jarrod watched her, holding his breath. He’d never seen any woman quite so stirring in his whole life. Not even Dulcy.

Abby
was
a firecracker.

There was something warm, wild, and wanton about her, tempered with a genuine sweetness. The kids sensed it. That’s why they took to her. A part of him had taken to her too. That made it all the harder to ask her what he had to. As much as he wanted to turn tail and head in the opposite direction, he didn’t see as he had much choice.

He closed the door and her head snapped around.

She seemed surprised to see him. “Jarrod.”

“Hello, Abby.” His voice sounded huskier than usual, even to him.

“Is something wrong with one of the children?”

“Why would you think that?”

“Can’t think of any other reason you’d come looking for me.”

“They’re fine. But I am here on account of them.”

“What is it?” she asked.

“I’d like to offer you the job of housekeeper. Again.”

“But I already told you why I—” Comprehension dawned in her eyes. “Nita Gibson didn’t work out.”

“That’s right. The kids asked for you again.”

She smiled, pleased. “Really?”

“Really.” He rubbed the back of his neck.

“What was wrong with Nita?” She couldn’t quite hide the pleased expression on her face.

“She turned the job down flat. But the kids found fault with her. They said she doesn’t like boys, probably doesn’t know a thing about horses, and she snorts when she laughs.”

Abby laughed, and the sound was cheerful, contagious. Jarrod chuckled along with her.

She wiped her eyes, then turned serious. “There’s only one choice, Jarrod. I think you should try Bea Peters again.”

“I tried. She turned me down.”

“Why?”

“Said she’d taken a job in the boardinghouse.” He shook his head. “Everyone says the same thing. Four kids are a handful.”

Abby put her hands on her hips as her eyes narrowed. “I just don’t understand. There’s nothing wrong with those children. They’re high-spirited, normal kids.”

“Maybe we’d have saved ourselves a lot of time and trouble if we’d just listened when Lily said you’d be perfect.”

She shook her head. “I can’t work for you, Jarrod.”

“I know it’s not on account of the kids.”

“Of course not. My reasons haven’t changed. I have my job here in town.”

“I pay well,” he argued, then caught himself. Getting Abby mad was the fastest way to make her dig her heels in. He was tired and discouraged, desperate for help. He needed Abby.

“It’s not enough. I told you I help out with my brother’s schooling.”

“I know, but—”