Twice Promised (The Blue Willow Brides Book #2): A Novel (20 page)

“And what about you and Jess?” Zach gave her an exasperated look. “This is not over and done with.”

“Just tend to Stomper. I’ll walk back like I should have to begin with.” She reached down for her cape, which had fallen to the ground. She tried to brush the bits of dirt and grass from it, but it was too warm for it anyway. She could hear the gurgling stream as it washed over the rocky creek bed, and she longed to stick her feet in its cold water.

“Think we could take a moment and enjoy a chance to dip our feet in the creek when I’m done here?”

Cora was startled. Had he just read her mind? “Maybe I can stay long enough to cool off. The stream looks inviting.” She shrugged. Right now she’d rather be alone with her tangled thoughts but decided to pretend nothing had happened. It’d be easier on him, Jess, and Greta. Wouldn’t it?

———

Zach leaned down and lifted Stomper’s front hoof to examine it. He found a rock had worked its way into the shoe. He pulled out his pocketknife and was able to work the stone out. “He’s gonna have a sore hoof, but he’ll be okay. Looks like I’ll be walking with you, though. I don’t want him to bear any more weight.” He held his hand out to her. “I see a nice shady spot, and I’m downright hot.”

“You
are
insistent, aren’t you?” Cora paused with her hands on her hips as she was about to walk back to the road. Looking up at her on the rocky slope, he noticed her finely sculpted cheekbones and olive complexion and wondered if there was Indian heritage in her background.

“Come on,” he said. “The creek is calling me.” He held Stomper’s reins in one hand and pulled her down the slope to the creek bank with the other. He dropped the reins, allowing the horse to walk to the edge. Stomper immediately poked his muzzle in the creek.

Zach pulled off his boots and rolled his pant legs above the ankle before he turned to Cora. “Well, what are you waiting for? Come on, join me.”

She stood timidly watching him, then looked at the stream, hesitating as she chewed on her bottom lip.

“I promise not to tell a single soul that you took your shoes and stockings off. It’ll be our little secret,” he teased with a grin. He saw the mischievous twinkle in her bright eyes. Would she do it? After their kiss, he knew there was a fire within her, under all that outward reserve. That shocked him but pleased him at the same time.

She moved to a rock and removed her shoes and stockings, revealing attractive, slender ankles and shapely feet. He felt himself staring too long, so he waded into the stream. The shock of cold water hit him. “Hoorah! The water’s cold, and I guarantee it’ll cool you off!” he bellowed, then motioned for her to join him.

She stood at the water’s edge, hiked up her skirts into her arms, and dipped one toe in to test the water, then finally slowly waded in. “Ahh . . . feels good on this summer day.”

They stood enjoying the moment with the swirling water rushing over their toes and sunlight bouncing off the sparkling creek. After a few moments, he watched her bend down to gaze through the clear water at the pebbles beneath. She reached in to swirl the water with one hand, keeping her skirts out of the water with the other hand. She rose, splashing water at him playfully, and he splashed her back until their laughter rang out across the stillness of the day and they were both damp.

Zach enjoyed seeing this new side of her. “You’re all wet now.” He chuckled, and it occurred to him that she was a good-hearted woman, warm and open, maybe longing for adventure. He supposed he’d misjudged her as too prim and proper and reserved.

“Oh, it does feel delicious, but we should be getting back now.” The back of her skirts had dipped into the creek. Wringing them out, she gathered them and headed back up the bank. He followed, watching the natural sway of her hips. When she sat down on the rock to don her stockings, he gazed at her again, lingering on her small foot. Tearing his eyes away, he plunked down on a boulder next to her and lifted his sock but made no move to slip it on. He suddenly felt his world spinning out of control.

“What?” she asked with a furrowed forehead.

Zach drew in a deep breath. “Oh . . . I . . . I guess I was just thinking about our kiss and how attracted I am to you. It blindsided me.”

“Zach—” she began to protest.

“Cora, I think what happened earlier was so natural and not contrived. But I’m wondering what in the devil is wrong with me.” He leaned over, putting his head in his hands. “I’m attracted to Greta, but somehow I feel different when I’m with you. Excited but comfortable-like. I thought I wanted to marry Greta, but lately I find myself thinking only of you.” He lifted his head to gaze at her across the space between them. Her eyes softened and her face was etched with concern. He continued, “I’ve been trying to handle things on my own since my brother died instead of letting God direct me.” He yanked on his socks and boots.

“Greta told me about your brother, and I’m so sorry. Have you tried praying about it? Maybe you’re angry.” Her answer surprised him, but her gaze was unwavering. His eyes traveled to the soft curve of her cheek, and he found himself wanting to stroke it.

“Could be. I’ll think about that.” He reached out and lifted her hand. “But I want you to know that what I feel for you is genuine.” He watched the expression on her face waver somewhere between belief and unbelief, and her eyes were moist with tears.

“But it can’t be, Zach. You know that. You’re going to marry Greta, and you can’t go back on your word.” She stood, and he closed the gap between them. He bracketed her face between his hands and kissed her soundly, savoring the sweet taste of her full lips. This time she didn’t pull away, and a tiny bud of hope uncurled in his heart. A sliver of sunlight through the pines caressed her face, making her appear like the angel he thought she was.

“Cora . . . I’m not sure of anything just yet. I admit I was very attracted to Greta right from the start, but it was more desire than love. I can’t build a marriage on that alone. It just wouldn’t be right. Greta likes living in town and working at the store. I don’t think she’d like living on a ranch. I’m best outdoors and I worship in wide-open spaces. I can’t be confined to that store forever.”

“I already knew that about you, and I wish you well, but I’m not sure about this, Zach. Greta’s been hurt once before, and I don’t want to cause her any more pain. Why don’t we let things go for a time and see what unfolds? And in the meantime we can each pray that God will lead us.” Her voice quivered, and Zach searched her eyes.

“Does that mean I wasn’t imagining your response to me?”

Cora let out a sigh and looked up at him. “No, you weren’t imagining it. But we must go. I’ve been away far too long, and I promised Greta . . .” She whirled around, dragging the hem of her damp skirts, and climbed up the slope to wait for him.

Zach grabbed Stomper’s reins and reluctantly followed, wondering how he could remedy the situation of the brides, which was all his doing in the first place. Pray? It was worth a try.

18

Shielded by a makeshift curtain that she had hung for privacy, Greta waited as Agnes stripped down to her chemise and stockings. She wasn’t as tall as Greta and was a bit short-waisted but otherwise had a nice figure. This was a first for Greta to be sewing for someone other than herself, though she’d helped out her sister Anna when needed. She wanted to do her best and found she enjoyed creating something from a shapeless piece of material.

Greta sighed and tried to concentrate as she made note of the other woman’s measurements while Agnes chattered away. She wanted to make certain of Agnes’s size before she began to cut the fabric, and she wanted to be precise, but Agnes wouldn’t hold still. Suddenly an impish thought came to Greta on just how to get the other woman to settle down.

She let out an exaggerated sound of surprise. “Oh my . . .”

“What?” Agnes stopped in midsentence, trying to turn around to get a better look. “What is it?”

“Well . . .” Greta sighed with the ease of many years of practice teasing two sisters. “If you’d be still . . . I’m sure it’s just my mistake . . .”

“What are you talking about?” Agnes froze stiff as a board, and Greta suppressed a smile.

“It’s a common thing, really—you simply look smaller in the waist than what I’ve measured here.”

“Well, land sakes—measure it again. I won’t talk or move a muscle.”

“All right,” Greta said graciously, trying to contain her mirth. She let her thoughts drift as she measured. Cole Cartwright wasn’t with Agnes this time, and Greta was thankful. Although he was good-looking and had made his intentions clear, she had all the men in her life she could handle between Zach and Jess.

She wondered what had happened to Cora. Several customers had arrived at the same time as Agnes, but between Jess, Greta, and Caleb, they’d taken care of the customers while making the impatient Agnes wait. Caleb was Johnny-on-the-spot finding items, wrapping them, and hauling them to waiting wagons. The morning passed quickly, and Greta was glad. She’d rather be busy. She was looking forward to tomorrow when they would have dinner with Granny.

“Greta, I’m sorry I’m being such a bother, but I just decided that I don’t like the material we first chose and want to look at something different.”

Greta held her anger in check, though the material had already been cut off the bolt. “I’ll do my best to help you choose something else. Let me take your measurements one more time before we start looking, but I’m afraid that you’ll have to pay for the material that I’ve already cut off the bolt.”

“Just put it on my bill. I simply must be happy with what I’m wearing or the night will be ruined!” Agnes shifted and reached to scratch her back, then quickly clamped her hand over her mouth, bringing Greta’s wandering thoughts back to the task at hand. “Oh, goodness! I didn’t mean to be such a fidget. My mother used to complain that I couldn’t stand still for more than two minutes,” she said with a lopsided smile.

“She certainly had that right, but if you don’t stand still, I promise you this dress won’t be fit for wearing. But with your fair complexion and green eyes, it’ll be easy to find material to complement your features and something you’ll feel good in,” Greta commented through tight lips. Agnes indeed had a peaches-and-cream complexion, which she protected from the sun with her broad-brimmed hats.
I bet she doesn’t spend one moment outdoors
, Greta thought.

Agnes looked like she might actually blush, but Greta knew she was too proud to do that. “It’s true, I don’t have trouble finding fabric to enhance my fair skin. Mother used to say I’d look good in sackcloth,” she said with a laugh.

“I’m sure your mother thought you were a beauty. All mothers think their daughters are the prettiest!”

“Maybe so, but Jess always told me how gorgeous I looked,” she said with a smug look.

Greta turned her around. “No doubt he thought you were. Tell me, weren’t you two courting at one time?”

Agnes gave her a sly look. “For a while.”

“What happened? You seem to be attracted to him.”

“I was foolishly interested in a businessman who was in town from Denver for a while. He turned my head but left without warning. By then Jess wouldn’t have anything to do with me. I was trying to win his trust back until you and Cora arrived.” Her mouth clenched as she said it. “So I suppose that’s out of the question for me now. Seems he only has eyes for you, according to Annabelle.” Her green eyes snapped as she looked at Greta.

Greta was taken aback. “What? Me? Hardly. But you know that Zach is courting me and Jess is seeing Cora.”

“That’s not the way Annabelle sees it.”

Thankfully, Greta was saved from responding when she heard the door swing open, and Cora and Zach came inside, laughing. Greta finished quickly once she got Agnes to stand still, and Agnes was still subdued when Greta left her to change back into her dress. She slid past the curtain and was surprised to see a somewhat disheveled Cora followed by a bemused Zach as they paused just inside the store.

“That must’ve been a mighty long ride, Zach,” Jess said, striding toward them as they entered the store. “Caleb and I have been busier than a one-armed horse wrangler.” Jess’s eyes flicked over Cora.

Greta walked over to them, noticing the wet hem of Cora’s skirts where dirt had collected. Her normally tight chignon at the back of her neck was loose with trailing strands of hair. Was she imagining it, or was Cora’s face flushed and her eyes brighter?

“Stomper had a stone in his hoof, and I met Cora on her way down the mountain, so we walked back together,” Zach told them, his eyes swerving to give Greta a half smile. “Morning, Greta.” His usual flirting seemed off a bit today.

“I see. Well, I’m glad you’re back now. You and Caleb can deliver the widow Jones’s order that I promised her this afternoon.”

Zach seemed to want to be gone in a hurry. “I’ll get right on it.”

“I hadn’t meant to stay so long at the Careys, but I’m glad I was missed,” Cora said.

“Yes, you were missed.” Jess gave Cora a sweet smile as he took her wrap from her, and his hands lingered on her shoulders for a long moment. Then he hastened away to help a customer.

Greta winced. His eyes had rested warmly on her friend, and it was obvious that he cared a lot for her. Greta longed to have him look at her that way. She glanced away, knowing she’d have to put that out of her mind—forever. Putting on her brightest smile, she said, “Cora, I’ve just taken Agnes’s measurements and she’s getting dressed.”

“I shouldn’t have taken so long, but I didn’t think Agnes would arrive so early. Did you need my help for anything?” Cora’s eyes went everywhere except Greta’s face.

“No, everything is fine, but if you can help with the customers while I finish with Agnes, we’ll be through soon.”

“Certainly, but if you need me at all, let me know.” Cora moved closer to Greta and touched her on the sleeve. “Is she being nice to you?” she whispered.

“Her usual self, but nothing that I can’t handle,” Greta answered softly. “How was Mrs. Carey?”

“She’s very lonely and overwhelmed with a new baby and four little ones. I promised to return and see if either Annabelle or I can help out.”