Twice Promised (The Blue Willow Brides Book #2): A Novel (4 page)

“Help! Please, somebody!” came Cora’s pitiful plea.

“Stay put, Cora!” Greta answered. The huge bear was in clear view now, prowling by the side of the privy, making deep-throated noises as it stood on hind legs and scratched at the wood door. It dropped to its feet when it saw Greta. She could smell the stench of its breath and body from where she stood nervously holding the rifle at shoulder level. With pounding heart and adrenaline coursing through her, she took aim and squeezed the trigger. The loud boom and the force of the gun sent her sprawling in the dirt.

She missed her mark and fired again into the darkness, but there were no more bullets loaded. Apparently the noise scared the bear, and its huge form lumbered off, disappearing into the dense trees. Thank God for the one shot!

She struggled to untangle her feet from her flannel nightgown and stood up. “It’s all right now, Cora! You can come out,” Greta said, her hands still shaking. Peter had showed them how to use a gun, but she’d never had any reason to until now. She shook the dirt from the back of her nightgown.

The door flung open wide, and Cora’s white face appeared. She fell into Greta’s arms. “Oh, God has mercy! Thank you for saving my life!” Cora said, then pulled away.

In truth Greta was just as shaken, but she didn’t want Cora to know. “Oh, don’t be so dramatic! I just scared him off. You’d do the same for me,” she said, one arm around Cora and the other holding the rifle at her side. “Let’s go back inside. That bear may still be lingering around.”

Once inside, Cora dropped into bed and crawled under the quilt, still shivering. Whether from cold or fright, Greta wasn’t sure.

“Do you feel okay? You’ve been up several times tonight.”

Her voice low and quivering, Cora answered, “I had a little stomach upset. I’m sorry if I disturbed you. Bears were the last thing on my mind tonight.” She had pulled the quilt up to her chin, and her eyes were as big as dinner plates.

Greta leaned the gun in the corner by her bed, hoping she wouldn’t have need of it again. She brushed the dirt off her bare feet and hopped back into bed.

“Thanks again, Greta,” Cora said. “I was scared to death. I never had to face anything like this in Boston.”

“You’re welcome. Now we’d better get some sleep. It’s been a very long day.” Greta yawned. “We’ll have plenty to discuss with Zach tomorrow.”

“Where in the world did you get off to tonight, Zach? I could’ve used your help right about closing time. I was unusually busy,” Jess said. He glanced up at the clock on the fireplace mantel when his brother stomped upstairs to their living quarters. It was after nine o’clock, and they were usually in bed early so they could be up promptly to open the store.

“Sorry. I had a little personal business to attend to,” Zach answered as he removed his boots. He sighed as he wiggled his toes through his socks. “I’m gonna have to order new boots from that Montgomery Ward catalog. Either my feet have grown or I’ve been wearing the wrong size—not to mention my waistline is expanding!” he said, eyeing Jess.

Jess chuckled as he looked up from his easy chair, where he’d been reading the newspaper. “It’s all those great Sunday dinners after church with Agnes Cartwright. You’ve picked up a few pounds—but I think you could stand to add a few more.”

Zach put his boots neatly beside his bed, then began picking up Jess’s shirt and pants strewn about the room. Jess watched as Zach followed the trail to their shared bedroom, where another shirt was flung across Zach’s bed. Jess’s bed was already a mess. Zach rolled the soiled pants and shirt into a tight ball and placed them by the door. “How many times do I have to pick up your things off my bed?” he called over his shoulder.

Jess shrugged. “Anyone ever told you that you’re starting to sound like a nagging wife?” He teased Zach but knew it was aggravating for his brother that he wasn’t tidy. Jess always swore he’d get better at it.

Zach grinned in spite of his exasperation and poked his head through the doorway just as Jess threw the cushion at him. “Speaking of which—I have something to talk to you about.”

Jess rose and started toward the bedroom. “Can it wait till morning? I’m going to bed now. My back is aching, and I’m not in the mood to talk about my needing a wife, if that’s what’s on your mind.” Lately it seemed that was the focus of Zach’s discussions. He slipped off his pants and shirt, leaving his long handles on, and sank into the softness of his bed, barely listening to his brother’s ramblings.

Zach followed him. “It
is
on my mind. Partly. You know that I’ve been working on that small piece of land in my spare time, and one day I’ll have me a small spread. I hate to leave you in the lurch when I’m ready to go. You need help, but more importantly, you need a wife.” He pulled his shirt off, folded it, and placed it on top of the bureau for another day’s wear. “I have someone I want you to meet tomorrow right after breakfast.”

“What . . . ?” Jess answered sleepily, closing his eyes as soon as his head hit the pillow.

Jess sipped the strong coffee that he’d made earlier and slipped his apron on. He enjoyed the quietness of the morning hour before the town came to life. He raised the window shade and flipped the sign over, then unlocked the door. Light was just beginning to spread over the city, struggling weakly through morning clouds. Could be they’d see a brief period of rain, which normally made the day pass a little slower for him. He eased out the door and sat down on an overturned water barrel, thinking about his life thus far.

Many of the friends he’d known since childhood had married and had a passel of kids. He was still in his twenties and was in no hurry, as his brother seemed to think. He wasn’t sure he wanted kids—but sometimes he found himself lonely when he took time to actually think about it, which was more frequently as of late. After his other brother died, Jess felt a part of himself missing. The three of them had been so tight. No wife was going to bring Bryan back.

He took another swig from his cup and wondered if this loneliness was from losing his younger brother or from needing a woman. Preacher Harrell always said that everyone needed a “helpmeet.” But how did he know for sure?

Well
,
I’d better get to writing up orders before I get a tongue-lashing from Miss Agnes when she marches in today!
He smiled at the thought of her. She was really a good person, and he’d seen her shooting a glance or two at him and Zach during church or when she was shopping in the store. He hadn’t given her any indication lately that he was interested in her romantically, but that hadn’t stopped her from trying.

He flung the last drop of his cold coffee into the street and went back inside, ready for whatever the day would hold. He enjoyed the smells that lingered in his store: leather, tobacco, liniment, and the wood-burning stove. Usually he was surrounded by a few of the old-timers jawing about the goings-on of Central City.

This was his life and he liked it well enough, but would a woman want to share it? Central City had a lot to offer in culture and had been all but declared a metropolitan city that held more influential people than Denver. But still—it was a mining town, growing fast and furious, with a lot of rough edges.

He strolled back inside, and his eye immediately landed on a large table with bolts of fabric all in a jumble after Agnes’s last visit. Jess shook his head. He’d meant to straighten that
and
the pile of boots in the corner for customers to try on before ordering. He’d do it later. He slipped behind the service counter and pulled out his tablet for ordering. Best to work on that before the day became busy.

As he had the thought, the bell over the door jangled, and in piled his friends Silas and Annabelle Mead and their three young children, with Annabelle desperately trying to maintain control. The kids were already running in all directions at once.

He moved to ask if he could be of help when his good friend Cole Cartwright strode through the door behind them. Jess was glad to hear Zach finally clomp down the stairs and hurry over to assist Silas.

“Howdy, Jess.” Cole extended his hand to give Jess a brief handshake. “Life treatin’ you fair these days?”

“Nothing to complain about. I’m busier than ever, but that’s always a good thing, I figure,” Jess said. “How’s things out at the Circle D?”

Cole pushed back his black Stetson, giving Jess a level gaze. “Since Pa died I’m doing my best to keep everything running on the ranch. I’ll be driving in a herd to the rail soon and need to pick up supplies. Lots to get done before snow threatens, and we know that could be just about any day now.” He fished in his vest pocket for his list of items and handed it to Jess.

Jess took the list and glanced over it. “I’ll have this together for you in no time. Do you have something to do in the meantime?”

Cole chuckled. “Matter of fact, I do have a couple of things to do while I’m in town.” He clapped Jess on the back. “Thanks, Jess,” he said, strolling toward the door. “Oh, by the way, Agnes said to ask you for dinner on Sunday after church.” He tipped his hat and stepped outside, causing the bell above the door to jingle loudly.

Jess stood there for a few seconds, his mind on Agnes. What excuse could he make for not having Sunday dinner? He sure was sick of his own cooking and Zach’s wasn’t much better, but he didn’t want Agnes to get any ideas about the two of them. He knew exactly what she had on her mind—settling down. But he wasn’t ready, and he was certain it wouldn’t be with her in the first place.

“Jess, where in tarnation did you put those new handsaws we just got in? Silas needs one and I’ve looked everywhere.” Zach slapped his thigh in exasperation, then glanced up at the big schoolhouse clock hanging above the dry-goods counter.

“You watching the clock for some reason?” Jess squinted at his brother, but Zach didn’t answer as Annabelle walked up, holding tightly to her child’s small hand. Jess turned on his heel. “I’ll go get the saw for Silas. I think I remember where I placed the box.” Jess scooted to the back of the storage area as Zach moved to the front of the store.

———

“Zach, do you think you could fit Sue with a pair of warm boots for winter? The fur-lined type?” Annabelle’s face was serious and her dark curls bobbed as she spoke. “I declare she’s growing up fast.”

Zach leaned down to tweak Sue’s cheek affectionately. “I’m sure we can—” The shop bell clanged, and Zach straightened and smiled as his two protégés swept into the store, their looks somber. He fully expected them to ask for fare to return home.

4

“Annabelle, would you excuse me for a moment?” Zach asked, never taking his eyes off the two ladies who stood waiting.

Annabelle nodded. She followed the direction of his gaze and studied the women as Silas joined her, his hands full of sundry items. Zach was about to head toward the ladies when Silas asked how his ranch plans were going.

Just then Jess emerged from the storage area with a shiny saw in his hand and made his way to where the group stood. He set the saw on the counter. “Here ya go. Nicest saw I could pick for you.” He glanced over at the two women, who were now looking around.

“Go on and finish your shopping and we’ll tally you up,” Jess said. “Excuse me a moment.” Silas nodded and Jess strode over to greet the women.

“Good morning, ladies. What can I help you with this morning?”

Zach groaned. He’d wanted to reach Greta and Cora before Jess.

“We’re here to see Zach,” Greta said.

Zach strode quickly from the other side of the room and walked past his brother, who stared openly at the ladies.

“I’m here. How was breakfast?” Zach was thinking neither of them looked too friendly this morning.

Greta took a step closer to Zach and glared at him, her fists clenched at her side. “Maybe you should be asking how our night was.” Zach stared back at her while Jess stood watching the interaction between the ladies and his brother.

Cora piped up, “It was miserable. I was scared half out of my mind!”

Zach dragged his eyes away from Greta. “Now, Cora, why in the world would you be scared out of your mind? That cabin is right cozy and well built.”