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Awkward Marriage 28
ake was relieved to be back home after spending a week at Sue’s family’s farm. Though he enjoyed most of it, he felt incredibly filthy after riding the horse, being in the pig pen, and falling in the mud. He took two baths when he got home but he still felt disgusting. He was glad he wore Jeremiah’s clothes instead of his own because if it had been his clothes, he would have burned them afterwards. After he bathed, he went to bed, exhausted. If he had to spend another night in the same room with Sue, he would go insane. She was too appealing. He didn’t sleep at all, especially after seeing her reach for milk and holding her in the kitchen. He was happy to be in his own bed. After he got a good night’s sleep, he was ready to go to work and hand in his resignation letter to Conrad. On his way out the door to meet Henry at the buggy, he saw Mr. Blacksmith walking up the steps to his house. He frowned. One good thing about being at the farm was that he didn’t have to worry a
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By the time Wednesday evening arrived, he knew he would have to tell Sue about his invitation to Tim Blacksmith for dinner the next evening. Sue was reading another book in the chair by the fireplace. Fortunately, she didn’t notice the way the bachelors looked at her. She spent so much time as a spinster that it was as if she forgot she was a woman. He had to admit that the house seemed less empty with her in it. He put aside his remaining paperwork for the new bank on his desk and turned his attention to Tim Blacksmith. Now how was he going to talk her into making dinner? He stood up and walked over to the other chair in front of the fireplace and sat down. Startled, she looked up. He hadn’t joined her before. “What are you reading tonight?” he asked. “The Scarlet Letter. I couldn’t put it out of my mind after the comment I made to Miss Gordon at the wedding reception.” “Did she really think it was a stationary shop?” “Yes. Mrs. Walker and I
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Jake hid his laughter as Tim blanched. “So, what are your intentions with Sue?” He took another bite and waited for Tim to answer. Tim still hadn’t swallowed the food. He picked up the cup of hot chocolate to wash down the food in his mouth but couldn’t seem to swallow that either. “Don’t you like it? If you marry her, you’ll have to eat this stuff all the time. She prides herself on her ability to cook a good meal.” He finally swallowed it, his eyes tearing up in the process. He took a deep breath and pushed the plate away. “I must be frank with you. This would condemn a restaurant.” Jake pretended to look offended. “She put a lot of hard work into this.” Sadly, that was probably true. She tried to make a tasty meal but couldn’t seem to pull it off. “I do have a personal chef, and my job involves a lot of eating out. I suppose one flaw in a woman is manageable.” “Oh, she insists on cooking all the time. She prides herself on her work.” “Certainly, s
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For the first time in her life, Sue spent considerable time getting dressed for Friday night. She knew that appearances were important to Jake, and she decided she would do her part to look as good as possible for the dinner and dance. She decided to wear a hunter green long sleeve dress with a heart shaped neckline. It would show a slight amount of cleavage but there was little she could do to help that since she couldn’t change her bust size. She wore the diamond necklace and earrings that Jake had given her and slipped on her hunter green high heeled shoes. She brushed her hair so that it fell in soft curls around her shoulders. She finally decided to pull the sides of it back with a hunter green barrette so that her earrings would show. She examined her reflection. Maybe I am as pretty as Jake claims. When she was ready, she went to the den since he spent most of his free time sitting at his desk. He was doing more paperwork. He spends so much time working. When does
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Jake sat back down. “I can appreciate your fear of being controlled when we got married.” She tried to relax but it was difficult. “Try not to let him get to you, Sue. Men like that aren’t worth the effort. Just be glad he married Belinda instead of you.” “I wouldn’t have married him if he was the only one in town who could pay off my father’s debt. Even Mr. York was a better catch.” “And where do I fit on that list?” He was smiling again. “At the very top. I couldn’t have done better,” she softly admitted, staring at her plate. “Thank you for standing up for me. It was nice to have someone defend me for a change.” “You always had to defend yourself?” She nodded and looked at him. “Jeremiah tried to defend me but he was five years younger so no one paid him any mind.” “So that’s how you got to be bold.” “Sometimes you do what you have to do.” “Well, I will do what I can.” She didn’t expect to be so touched by the reality that he would defend
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ake spent the weekend setting things up in his bank. He used his pent up frustrations for energy. He couldn’t believe the nerve of the bachelors in town who kept asking Sue to dance on Friday night. He would try to get back to her when someone came up to him to discuss his bank. Had it not been for the fact that she declined most of the invitations to dance so she could talk to some of the wives, he would have picked her up and dragged her home. Fortunately, she seemed to be blissfully unaware of their intentions. Why didn’t the men take the time to notice her before he married her? It wasn’t his fault that they didn’t get to her first. He tried not to let his sour mood show when a box of chocolates and flowers from an Ethan Bower arrived at his house on Sunday afternoon shortly after he and Sue came home from church. Since Sue was in the den reading, he was able to throw them out before she discovered them. He immediately added Ethan Bower to his list. He was able to cro
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“I did. Good morning, Mr. Mitchell,” he politely stated as he held out his hand. Jake crossed his arms. “Is it really a good morning, Mr. Cline?” He seemed baffled as he put his hand down. “It is for me.” “Daddy, can we go look at books now?” his daughter asked. He turned to talk to her. “Jake, what’s wrong with your manners?” Sue whispered so Donald wouldn’t overhear. “My manners?” he whispered back. “What are you doing being so friendly to him? Have you no consideration for other’s feelings?” “I don’t see what the problem is. Donald came by to announce his engagement to Martha Howell, and he brought my niece by so I could see her. I don’t get to see her very much since Emma died.” Jake immediately felt his anger fade. “Oh. He was your brother-in-law.” “Yes. What did you think he was?” At least I can safely cross him off the list. “I’m sorry.” Turning to Donald, he said, “Forgive me, Mr. Cline. I thought you were makin
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The next day, they took the train to Richmond. He was glad she could join him. His trips were usually boring, though he spent most of his time reading. It was nicer to have her to talk to. She hadn’t been on a train before and he grinned at her enthusiasm for the experience. With her, this was a new world. She was used to the farm and the library, but outside of that, her life had been limited. What would it be like to take her to Europe? What would she think of seeing Greece in person? They reached Richmond in good time, and he took her to lunch before his business meeting at Brother’s Bank. He didn’t feel like parting from her but reminded himself that he would see her in a couple of hours. “I’ll be at the library. Do you want me to come back here or will you stop by to get me?” she asked him. “Why don’t you do some shopping before you read a book? Buy yourself something you like.” “Well, I can’t really think of anything to get.” “Is there nothing yo
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Awkward Marriage 85
It was about time Jenny‘s brothers stopped their harassment, Owen thought as they took in the bright, shiny deputy badge that Sheriff Meyer returned to him. Owen‘s chest puffed up with a sense of pride as he closed the door of the jailhouse and placed his hat on his head. ―Afternoon, gentlemen,‖ he said and buttoned his coat. ―Getting ready for Christmas?‖ ―We had some errands to run,‖ Tom replied. ―Even if women say they don‘t want anything but our love, they don‘t mean it.‖ Joel snickered. ―And you had to learn that the hard way.‖ Tom‘s face grew red. ―I can‘t wait until you get married, Joel. I don‘t care what you argue about. I‘ll take her side each time.‖ ―Unlike you all, I have no desire to tie the knot,‖ he replied and gave them a smug smile. ―I‘m going to stay single forever.‖ ―Since when?‖ ―Since I saw how you all ended up. No woman is going to tell me what to do.‖ ―Oh really?‖ Dave asked. ―Then what are you doing in town looking for gifts?‖ Joel sighed. ―I g
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Jenny flung a dish at Clyde‘s head. Drats! She missed! ―Get off my property!‖ She picked up another plate from the stack she held to her chest and threw it at him. Again, he expertly dodged it as he made his way to the porch. She grunted and threw the whole stack at him. This time two plates hit him in the face. He yelled and touched his cheek which had a bloody cut on it. Glaring at her, he took a step toward her. ―Not this time, Jenny! I‘m getting my boy.‖ She grabbed her broom and swung at him. Unlike last time, he jumped back. She stepped forward but someone came up behind her and held her arms in place. She screamed and kicked at her captor, but his hold only grew tighter. ―Get the boy and let‘s get out of here,‖ the man growled at Clyde. ―Run!‖ she yelled at Jeremy who was supposed to be in his room. She prayed he would make it to the attic before Clyde found him. Clyde climbed the rest of the porch steps, and as he passed her, sh
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Owen recognized that gruff voice anywhere. And there was no way he was going to play possum now. He leapt over the counter, nearly knocking over the startled owner who ran to retrieve his gun. ―This is my store. You have no business being here!‖ the owner barked. Then he fired his rifle at the doorway. Owen didn‘t bother seeing if the man hit Big Roy or not. He just ran. He ran down the narrow space that led to the backdoor and found himself in another alley. The scene was eerily familiar. Except this time Mitch and Lance weren‘t chasing him. Nope. Big Roy was doing the honors this time. Owen raced past the dumpsters. He heard a door open and almost got hit with a bullet. He swerved to the right and found himself on a less traveled part of the business district. He bent to hide behind stagecoaches and buggies as he scampered as fast as he dared without giving Big Roy ample opportunity to get a clear shot. Where was Irving anyway? Some stellar deputy he was turnin
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It was a week later when Big Roy finally arrived in Omaha. And Owen had just finished breakfast when the fateful knock came at the door. He put his napkin down and went to answer it. ―Amos?‖ he asked, surprised to see the boy with his two friends standing on his porch, holding fishing rods. ―Isn‘t it a little cold to be fishing?‖ It was December after all. ―Big Roy‘s in Omaha,‖ Amos said, looking unusually excited by the prospect. Owen‘s eyes grew wide. ―How do you know this?‖ ―We saw him. Oh, he‘s big and angry alright. He was asking where you were.‖ ―You didn‘t tell him, did you?‖ Owen demanded as he watched the boy practically dance with glee. Was everyone but Jenny and Jeremy eager to send him to an early grave? ―Course not! We‘d never do that,‖ Amos assured him. ―In fact, no one‘s telling him anything. But Irving wants you down at the jailhouse.‖ Amos motioned to his fishing rod. ―You don‘t need to worry about a thing. We‘re ready to help you!‖ Amos and h
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Jeremy ran to the front door and jumped into Owen‘s arms. Surprised, Jenny turned from the sandwiches she‘d been making and went over to him. ―They let you out of jail?‖ ―As long as I promised not to run away.‖ He gave Jeremy a big hug. ―I missed you, squirt.‖ ―Was it scary in there?‖ Jeremy asked. ―No, but it was lonely. It‘s good to be home with my family.‖ He leaned forward and gave Jenny a kiss. ―I can‘t believe how much I missed you two.‖ ―We missed you too,‖ she said, hugging him as much as she could with Jeremy between them. ―I was just making supper. Are you hungry?‖ ―I didn‘t get much to eat, so yes.‖ He set Jeremy down and took off his coat and hat. ―It‘s nothing fancy. Just sandwiches,‖ she warned. He put up his holster on the hook next to his coat and hat. ―After eating nothing but beans and jerky, sandwiches will be a treat.‖ He turned to them and gave them another hug. ―It feels so good to be back home.‖ She laughed and hugged him back. ―It
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Jenny heard Sally knock on the front door but hesitated to answer it. No one had been out to see her since the day they found out about Owen, probably because Mary managed to talk them into giving Jenny time to herself, so she didn‘t know why Sally came out. She pushed the curtain aside in the parlor. Sally was alone. She exhaled. At least, the cavalry wasn‘t coming out again. She quickly thought of a way to distract her sister from the matter at hand and opened the door while Sally was in mid-knock. ―Oh good! I wanted to talk to you.‖ Jenny pulled her into the house and peered out the door. Good. Sally really was alone, just as she thought. She shut the door and turned to Jeremy. ―Take your blocks and play upstairs. I have to talk to your aunt.‖ Jeremy obeyed and went up the steps. As soon as he was in his room, Jenny led Sally into the kitchen and sat her down. ―Would you like a snack?‖ ―No thanks,‖ Sally said. ―I came to talk to you.‖ ―Yes, and I‘m glad yo
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She relaxed. ―Oh. I thought you meant...‖ She had thought he meant that he didn‘t want her to stay married to Owen. But he hadn‘t, and she didn‘t want to explain it. Looking at Irving, she knew that they wouldn‘t have made a good match. She would have married him for her son, but he wouldn‘t have been her first choice. She glanced inside the jailhouse. There, in the cell, sat the man she would have chosen. Returning her gaze to Irving, she asked, ―So I can talk to him?‖ ―Follow me.‖ He led her into the building. ―Meyer, I got the wife wanting to see her husband.‖ Jeremy broke free from her and ran over to the cell, calling out ―Pa!‖ Owen‘s face lit up and he eagerly ran over to the bars so he could hug Jeremy... Well, as much as he could with the bars between them. The tender moment brought tears to Jenny‘s eyes. How many times had she seen fathers and their sons and wished Jeremy could have a pa that loved him too? Wiping her eyes, she turned to the sheriff and de
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Jenny didn‘t feel like dealing with anyone at the moment. Her mind was a jumble of thoughts, and her relatives weren‘t helping. Her brothers and Sally sat around the kitchen table trying to decide what to do about the situation while Greg, Jeremy, and Isaac played with the dog in the backyard. Mary stayed out there to watch them from where she sat in the chair next to the house. Maybe Jenny shouldn‘t have come to Sally‘s house after they left the jail. Maybe she should have just gone home. She watched the children as they laughed and took turns throwing the ball for the dog to catch. It was simple for them. Children didn‘t sit and analyze things. They either liked something or they didn‘t, and they acted accordingly. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and rested her forehead against the cool glass of the window. Her hand fell to her abdomen. She should‘ve realized it sooner, but she and Owen had stayed up well into the night to enjoy lovemaking. The fatigue was ea
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Owen jumped up as soon as the door to the jailhouse opened. He rushed over to the bars to see if Jenny came. She did. But she also brought Sally and her four brothers with her. Four very angry looking brothers. He immediately stepped back as the four glaring men surrounded the cell. He examined the bars. He hoped the steel was strong enough to keep them out. They looked like they were ready to rip him apart and feed his remains to the vultures. ―You‘re lucky you‘re in there!‖ Tom barked, pointing an accusing finger at him. ―Because if you weren‘t, we‘d run you out of town.‖ ―How could you do this to our sister?‖ Richard demanded, shaking the bars. Owen swallowed the lump in his throat and backed up until he hit the wall. He glanced at the small window and wondered if he could escape if he squeezed through it. No. That was ridiculous. He was much safer here with the bars protecting him than in the open where these men could chase him down. ―First Clyde an
