ROMANCE: Mail Order Bride: A Sheriff's Bride (A Clean Christian Inspirational Historical Western Romance) (New Adult Short Stories) (93 page)

CHAPTER FIVE:

The day of the town festival neared. All of the townspeople were in a buzz about the festivities. Johanna especially had set her mind to solving her problem. She would take part in the race, no matter what she had to do.

"Are you excited about the festival?" she asks Mr. Lauden, who is leaning over his bookshelf perusing the titles. She had put Caleb down for his nap.

"I suppose, if excitement is what you could call it," he replies.

"What else would you call it?"

He looks at her with a smirk, which makes her knees weak. She picked up the broom in an effort to begin the usual chores.

"Wait," he says, suddenly standing. "You don't need to do the sweeping today."

"Why would you say that? It is filthy in here." 

"Hardly." He stands and approaches her, taking the broom out of her hand and leaning it back against the wall. She tries not to shrink back from his sudden close proximity. "You keep it clean enough. I feel guilty watching you work so hard. Come, sit here."

She sits down where he motions, and he takes his place again across from her, his back now to the bookshelves.

"What is it you wanted, Sir?" Johanna asks, feeling overwhelmed and suddenly shy.

"I want to ask you about ... " He paused, turning his blue eyes out the window next to them. She sees him rolling the thought around before speaking it out loud, as if trying to recognize the flavor of some small but pungent ingredient.

"Yes?" she prods.

"Johanna, you still insist on calling me Mr. Lauden, even though I have asked you to call me Reese."

"I'm sorry, Sir, if you find that offensive. I just think it appropriate that we maintain a sense of propriety. You are, after all, my employer."

"That is true. That is true." He considered for another moment. "Perhaps if I were not your employer?"

Johanna placed her hand to her throat. "Oh, Mr. Lauden, have I done something to offend you?"

"Why would you say you have offended me?"

"Are you relieving me of my position?"

He stopped short as a wave of perplexity passed over his face. Quite suddenly, he burst into a loud and hearty laugh. Johanna felt the blood rush to her face, now feeling more confused than ever.

"Oh, my dear, my dear." He wiped his fingers along the edges of his eyes, ridding the mirthful tears forming there. "No, that was not my intention at all, Johanna." He leaned forward and took her hand, sending a shockwave up her arm as his fingers touched hers. It was all she could manage not to pull back. "I had hoped that perhaps I could call on you."

"Call on me?" Johanna echoed in a thin voice.

"You are the most remarkable person I have ever met. The way you talk about your horses almost as if they were persons themselves. Watching you with Caleb—it is clear you have a talent with him. I can also see that you have a fierceness about you that you keep hidden. It is that fierceness that I want to see more of, and I don't think you will allow that as long as I remain your employer."

Johanna did not know how to respond. Her attraction to him had crept up on her in such a way that even she did not perceive it. Perhaps that is where the answer to her confusion came from. Did she really have feelings for him? She did so much to try and convince herself that their relationship was nothing more than professional.

She turned away from his gaze, looking out the window as if the words she sought might float within the drifting clouds. Before she could give any kind of response, the sound of her sister’s voice calls out from the porch. Perhaps she had not heard the arriving carriage coming to collect her for the day.

"It seems as if my mother and sister have arrived," Johanna stammers, standing up and regaining possession of her hand.

"So it seems," he replies.

Johanna lets in Sara, who fills the space with her youthful exuberance. "Can I see the baby?" she gushes.

"I just put him down. He's sleeping," Johanna says.

"Oh, please let me look! I promise I won't wake him."

"All right, as long as you are quiet."

Her employer stands and crosses the room, greeting Sara as she bounds past him down the hallway to the nursery.

"She has a lot of enthusiasm," he says.

"That she does," Johanna says. For a few more seconds they were alone once more. Johanna sees her mother securing the horses before coming inside.

"You have not given me an answer," he says, stepping near and speaking in a low, quiet voice. "Have I overstepped my boundaries?"

"It's not that at all, Mr. Louden ... Reese. It's just that I never expected ... "

"Neither did I." He reaches up and brushes a tendril of hair off of her forehead. "Would you care to accompany me to the harvest festival at least?"

"I ... " Very suddenly, the solution to the problem rushes into her mind all at once. She knows exactly what she needs to do to get into the races. "I would like nothing more to do so, but I will be out of town on that day."

"Out of town?" He takes a small step backward.

"Yes, I am dreadfully sorry. Just on that day. Please don't take this as a rejection. Perhaps on another day we could take the horses out."

"Yes, perhaps. That might be a good option."

Sara entered the living room from the hallway, carrying a smiling Caleb in her arms. "He was awake when I went in. I promise he was."

The child laughs and claps his hands, obviously amused by something only he understands.

"I believe you, Sara," Johanna says.

Their mother approaches the door. Johanna quickly crosses the room so as to not be too close to her employer. Her mother would have her hide if she thought her actions inappropriate.

"It's time to get along, Johanna," her mother said as she entered. "We'll want to get home before dark. We must make haste."

"I'll be awaiting your decision then, regarding what we discussed," he says, standing at the door with Caleb in his arms. Johanna exchanges a quick glance with him just as they walk out the door back to the carriage. She nods in response.

"What decision is that?" her mother prods.

"Just a business matter," she says. "Nothing more." 

She pulls her bonnet up over her hair to hide the blush in her cheeks and the smile of hope that dares to dance upon her lips. The carriage wheels crackle against the rocks as they make their way toward their homestead.

CHAPTER SIX:

The day of the festival arrived. Fortunately, Johanna's mother and sister had already gone to the church building to gather the garlands for the race. Johanna tells them she will stay behind and that she would meet them there later. She waits by the door watching the carriage disappear over the swell in the hill. She did not mind to walk into town when she was ready. The distance was not more than a quarter of a mile.

They had taken the quarter horses, so Pepper stood faithfully in her stable when Johanna ran out to her. As quick as she could, she led the horse out, saddling with the best saddle. Luckily not many in town had seen this horse, as she was able to keep her almost as a pet since she was a pet.

"Don't worry, Pepper," Johanna whispered. "They'll never even see us coming."

Next came the tricky part of her plan. She went back inside after tying Pepper to the post outside. The silence of the house deafened her after she stepped back in. Perhaps the tinge of guilt she felt made everything seem that much more present. Even the silence. Slowly she walked down the hallway to her mother's bedroom. What she needed would be there. As her footsteps cross the threshold into the bedroom, she feels as if she is trespassing into some sacred chapel. She needed to move quickly before she lost her nerve. The ornate blue painted wardrobe was one of the few pieces of furniture her mother had insisted they bring from the east when they arrived in Neiman's Hollow.

Johanna slowly opened the bedroom door.

Her father's clothes still hung there, as if waiting for him to arrive and put his coat on for the day. Johanna flicked through, finding the shirt coat and collar that her father had worn for Sunday services.

"This is perfect," she whispers out loud in an effort to break the silence. The second part of her plan involved finding his old papers, filed away somewhere in the large rolltop desk on the other side of the bedroom.

At last, she is ready. She tucks the entry form, now completely filled out, and runs outside, pulling Pepper by the lead down the road into town toward the festival.

Reese arrived, seeing dozens of people milling around the track on the side of town where the festival was to take place. Several of the ladies from church buzzed around tucking the flower garlands to the edge of the fencing alongside the racetrack. He was saddened that he could not convince Johanna to accompany him, but his status as an eligible bachelor did not seem to go unnoticed. He had volunteered to announce the race, and he sought out the booth.

"There you are, my boy!" Mr. Andrews called out to him, directing him toward the tall booth overlooking the racetracks. "Here you are. You are sure to keep everyone's attention. Just use the large speaking device up on the counter there. Your voice will ring out over the crowd." Mr. Andrews handed him a piece of paper with a list of the names of those racing.

"Here are the names of those racing. It is not set to start for another half an hour, so feel free to enjoy the festival until then."

"Thank you, Mr. Andrews."

He glanced down the list of names, ticking off in his mind as he recognized nearly all of them from the church. The very last name struck him a bit, John Holmes, No. 7. He does not recall the name but let’s the matter go. He is new to Neiman's Hollow and has probably not yet met everyone. Almost.

"Where is your darling Caleb today?" The voice interrupts his thoughts, and he turns to see Johanna's mother approach with Sara following close behind.

"How do you do? I have him with the other children with the nursery station back at the church."

"Of course, of course. I assume you will be seeing ... "

"I'm so sorry to interrupt," Mr. Andrews comes rushing up to him. "The horses are starting to line up. Do you mind to take your place in the tower?"

"Not at all. Please forgive me, Mrs. Holmes." He turns away from Johanna's mother and makes his way to the booth.

From the vantage point, he sees out over the length of the track, half a mile in a full oval. The weather is beautiful for the day’s events: sunny and just a hint of a breeze, enough to keep everyone comfortable. Down at the edge of the track, he sees the crowd begin to gather, eager eyes peering over to catch a glimpse of the horses.

The riders all tended to their charges, patting noses and tightening straps at the last minute. He sees a young boy at the edge of the crowd away from everyone, his cap pulled down tight covering his face. The familiarity strikes him instantly, but he knows he has not made acquaintance with a young man of such stature.

He pushes the thought aside as the horses line up at the starting line.

Mr. Andrews steps forward to welcome the crowd with his arms outstretched, holding in one hand his best silk hat.

"Ladies and gentlemen!"

He is greeted by polite applause.

"Welcome to the second annual match races for the Neiman's Hollow spring festival! This year I am proud to announce the race will be called by none other than the newest citizen of Neiman's Hollow, Mr. Reese Louden!" He gestures to the tower. Reese waves to the crowd, retuning the enthusiasm.

The horses took their place. The familiar young man put on the banner that contained the number assigned for the race. No. 7. So this was John Holmes, but where did he come from? Who was he? It was time for the race to begin. Mr. Andrews lifted his arm, to signal the riders.

"On your marks!"

Hooves pawed at the ground.

"Get set!"

Riders leaned in, narrowing their eyes.

"Go!"

Reese lifted the speaker trumpet to his lips. "And No. 5 surges to the front followed by No. 8. Coming up in the rear in the first quarter is No. 4!"

He continued to call out the details of the race. The mysterious No. 7 kept to the middle of the group. The horses came around the first curve and along the backstretch.

"No. 5 still holding the lead!" His voice echoed out over the crowd. "Followed closely by No. 4! Three is making a run for a place in the top three!"

Without much warning, the No. 7 horse shot forward, surging up alongside the leader like a bullet.

"Here comes No. 7!" He shouted, his excitement overflowing into his voice. "And they are coming around the back bend into the straight away! Five and seven are at battle, ladies and gentlemen!"

The honey-golden horse bearing the slight figure pulled forward into the lead. Reese watched as the rider leaned in, as if willing the horse to move faster. Yards before the finish line, he could see the hat, which by some miracle had stayed in place up to this point, began to flutter. The wind caught it, and it flew off rolling away in the middle of the infield. The rider's hair, much to his surprise, flies out in long chestnut strands, giving away the identity of the rider.

He knows that hair.

And he knows that face.

The mystery rider was none other than Johanna Holmes! His Johanna.

"Ladies and gentlemen, talk about a dark horse! The winner is horse No. 7! And if my eyes do not deceive me, the rider is none other than our very own Johanna Holmes!"

The crowd surged to their feet. The front row pressed up against the railing, mouths open, eyes wide. Johanna turned toward them as her horse crossed the finish line. She pulled the horse to a trot, standing up in the stirrups. Reese could not believe he did not see it right away. The men's clothes had hidden her identity enough for her to get into the race. The crowd was overcome, chattering and cheering. Some of the younger women were waving their kerchiefs and fans with adulation. In the corner next to the stands, Reese saw Mr. Andrews poring over the rules with Pastor Harkins, their faces pinched in confusion.

Reese can stand it no longer.

He lays down the speaker and climbs out of the booth, making his way through the crowd to the finish line. She is still on the horse when he catches up to her.

"Johanna!" he calls, catching the bridle and leading her away from the approaching crowd.

"Reese!" She calls his name over the crowd, speaking through the huge smile on her face.

Johanna climbs down from the horse into Reese's awaiting arms.

"I think," she says in a breathless voice, "I think I have the answer to your question."

"Do you?"

"I think perhaps it might be all right for you to call on me sometime."

He laughed and swept her up in his arms, lifting her feet off the ground and spinning her around. "Oh, Johanna! My Johanna! I never thought you would say so."

She felt her feet touch the ground at last, and he tilted her chin between his thumb and forefinger. With no measure of the crowd around them, he leans forward and kisses her gently on the lips.

"And I thought winning the race was the best thing that would happen to me today," she says when he breaks away.

He laughs and kisses her again, completely ignoring the press of the crowd. As far as either of them cared, they were the only two people that mattered.

The End

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