Banking on Temperance (21 page)

“So, are you going to stuff your mouth all evening to avoid talking about it?”

He glanced up from the delectable mound of mashed potatoes he was demolishing. “Talking about what?”

Ginger sighed. “Joseph is right. Sometimes you just are plain stupid.”

Basil glared across the table at Joseph, who raised a shoulder.

“What can I say? Husbands and wives talk to each other.”

Basil’s gaze returned to his sister. “So you’ve seen Temperance? How is she?”

“Why don’t you ask her yourself? Or are you too afraid you’ll find yourself on the wrong end of a rifle?”

Despite his dour mood, Basil grinned at the image. “She is one feisty lady.”

“So are you going to tell me what happened between the two of you?”

Basil shifted in his seat. “What did she tell you?”

“Oh, no you don’t. You can’t fish for information without revealing some of your own.”

“Just tell me how she is first. Then I’ll tell all.”

“She’s fine. What did you expect? That she’d crumble into pieces after your encounter? She’s made of sterner stuff than that, Bas. You, of all people, should know that by now.”

“So she’s calling what happened between us ‘an encounter’?”

“What would you call it?”

Basil took a deep breath, and then put his fork down. Despite the fact that fried chicken was a favorite of his, he had lost his appetite.

“I’d call it the biggest mistake of my life. I became friends with her, which I never do with women. Then, the minute she showed an interest in someone else, I got jealous. And my jealousy got the best of me.”

“Did you compromise her?”

“No. But in a way, I wish I had.”

“Why, for God’s sake? Because the decision of what to do with her would then be taken from your hands?”

Basil hung his head.

Ginger reached across the table and laid her hand on top of his. He shifted his gaze and stared into her eyes.

“I’m very sorry, Basil. But there’s no easy way out of this one. You may have coasted all your life, but you’ve finally met your match, it seems. Temperance is the only woman you’ve met who has captivated you for more than a few months. I love her, too, as if she was a sister, and I hate to see the two of you making life difficult for yourselves.”

“What do you suggest?”

“For the first time in your life, I want you to become a man about your feelings. Run to her, tell her you love her and Oregon be damned.”

“I can’t.”

Ginger slammed her silverware onto the table, startling both men and baby Samuel, who began to cry. Joseph took him from Ginger and walked into the next room, leaving the two siblings alone.

“Then you must not care about her as much as you think you do.”

Basil ran his hands through his hair. “You’re wrong, Ginger. I want her more than I’ve ever wanted a woman, but she made a solemn promise to her father to see the family safely through to Oregon. I can’t get in the way of that. She’s fulfilling her father’s legacy.”

“Do you love her?”

“Yes, Goddamn it.”

“Then her father’s legacy for her is right here. He only wanted her to be happy, whether it’s here or in Oregon. Her brothers will have to decide for themselves whether to take up arms against another human being when war comes. She can’t protect them from that. Plans change, Basil. That’s what life is all about.”

“She doesn’t see it that way. She is single-minded in her determination to get her family to Oregon.”

“And isn’t that part of what you love about her? Her determination? She’s a remarkable woman, Basil, but I’m certain you are equal to her. You need to convince her that sometimes moving forward in life means a restructuring of what one considers important. Love, true love, doesn’t come into your life too often, and you need to jump all over it when it does.”

“If only it were that simple. It’s not just her. She carries on her shoulders the responsibility of her whole family.”

“I’m well aware of the sacrifices she makes for the sake of all of them. And of everything you’ve done to help them. The bank didn’t need to be cleaned three times a week. You only did that to give her extra money. And to spend time with her.”

“It would be different, though, if she and I were to marry. Then I’d legally have to take care of them. What if her mother dies in childbirth next spring? Who will take care of all those children?”

“You disappoint me.”

Basil finally met his sister’s gaze. “Maybe I’m not the man you thought I was.”

“Possibly not.” She sighed and rose from the table, signaling the end of their conversation. And Basil left the house not knowing anymore about Temperance’s state of mind than he did when he rode up.

Temperance had carefully built up her relationship with Jake over the past few weeks. They were getting along well enough. He had a good sense of humor, and was certainly not hard to look at, so she was relatively happy with the way things were progressing. He made her laugh with his lightheartedness, which was a welcome relief from the swirl of angst that encompassed her when she was around Basil. But sometimes she wished for more depth from him.

Ah well. Today was not the day to dwell on Jake’s shortcomings. Today was the day to find his strengths. She thought the time had come for her to approach the subject of the wagon train he was busy putting together. After all, the train was due to leave in two months and she wanted her family to be on board. But he had yet to talk about his profession.

That would change today. Temperance gazed at her reflection in the mirror. She let her hair hang loose today, and rather enjoyed the way tendrils framed the sides of her face. Pinching her cheeks to get some color in them, she waited anxiously for Jake’s arrival at the cabin. They were going to a potluck social, and her cinnamon crumb cake was ready. It was a long trek back to town, so she wanted to prepare something that would hold up during the ride.

She planned to use that trek to town to bring up the wagon trains. By now, she and Jake had kissed on several occasions. While he didn’t rock her back on her heels, his kisses were pleasant enough. And pleasant enough would do. The last thing she needed in her life was a man who made her lose her sense of direction.

As she settled in beside Jake, he took hold of her hand. She was wearing gloves, so he couldn’t feel the roughness of her hands, thank goodness. Her body ached from leaning over a washboard all day, and her hands were red and rough from constant exposure to hot water. Small enough sacrifice, she thought. She’d trade the ache she got when she was in Basil’s presence for the ache of manual exertion any time. She shook her head to clear all thoughts of Basil from her mind. She needed to focus on Jake, the handsome man who did want to be near her. She squeezed his hand before she asked, “So, what have you been up to all week? I’ve only seen you at the restaurant once, so I guess you’re busy.”

He smiled down at her. “I’ve missed you too, darlin’.” He leaned over for a quick kiss. “My first customers for the train came to town this week. Quite a demanding couple, they are, but they’re driving two wagons, so I’ll put up with them.”

“Two wagons? Are they a large family?”

“Just one child, a girl. But they have the husband’s brother with them, who will drive the second wagon, which is loaded down with their fine furniture. I tried to tell them to leave all that behind, but they insisted.”

“So there will be only four people in two wagons? What a shameful waste.”

“In a way. They certainly can’t be relied on to help much during an Indian attack, with only two guns. But, on the other hand, they won’t eat much. So the one balances the other.”

“Do you ever have people sign on to your wagon trains just to help round out your numbers? Say you need people who are good with a rifle, or you need folks to ride ahead and hunt for meat, things such as that.”

Jake leaned in for another kiss. “Why this sudden interest in the workings of my wagon train? Are you telling me you’re going to miss me when I head out?”

Temperance squirmed in her seat. “I’m curious, is all. My father wanted us to hook up with a wagon train here in St. Louis and head to Oregon. Tell me about it.”

“Oh, it’s the Promised Land, that is for certain. The trail ends at the Willamette Valley, which is some of the prettiest land you’ll ever lay eyes on. The air smells fresh, the land is fertile for whatever you want to grow, and there are mountains so high they always have snow on them, even in the high heat of summer.”

Temperance leaned back in her seat and sighed. “It sounds beautiful.”

“Yes, it is, but in order to get there, you have to cross a wide desert that tests the mettle of everyone who passes over it. It’s a harsh, brutal land, making the final climb over the mountains and into the valley all that much more sweet.”

“Is that where you plan to head in the spring?”

“Yes, one more trip to Oregon. Then I think I’ll start forming groups to head to California. I haven’t been in that part of the country in a while, and I’m anxious to see how the settlements there are doing.”

“So, you’re saying that after this year, you won’t be in Oregon again?”
Oh dear, that puts a crimp in my plans.

“Why so many questions today? Maybe I should find a way to take your mind off my work.”

He stopped the buggy and wrapped both arms around her. He kissed her again, taking his time now. His tongue begged for entry into her mouth, and she opened slightly to let him in. He tasted of tobacco laced with peppermint, and she was grateful he tried to sweeten his mouth before kissing her. He was a nice man. The kiss lasted for a long minute, until Temperance shivered and broke away.

Jake grinned at her. “I had the same reaction. Good, we’re making progress.” He picked up the reins and urged the horses into a trot.

Temperance sank back into the seat. She didn’t have the heart to tell him her shivering was from the cold, and not because of his touch.

• • •

Jake was pleased with himself, and with Temperance’s reaction to his embrace. He had actually made her shiver with delight as he touched her. She had a good sense of humor, and Lordy, she was pleasant enough to look at. He’d planned on waiting until the trip home to surprise her with his present, but he decided to take advantage of the situation.

He removed one arm from her and reached under the seat of the buggy, bringing out a package wrapped in butcher paper and string. “This caught my eye the other day, and I thought of you.” He handed it to her.

Temperance stared up at him, open-mouthed. “You got me a present? Why?”

Jake grinned. “Has no one ever bought a pretty lady such as you a gift before?”

Temperance stumbled for an answer. “Well, uh, yes, but only after we had been dating for quite awhile.”

“In the West, we do things a little differently. A bit faster, maybe. Besides, you need this and I won a large pot of money at the card table the other night. Go ahead and open it. I want my lady to be especially lovely tonight.”

With shaking hands, Temperance undid the string and opened the paper. A satin bonnet in a dark, hunter green color sat in her lap, with a black velvet ribbon tie. She touched the fine material lightly with her gloved fingers, noticing the contrast between the shabby and oft-repaired gloves and the shiny, pristine bonnet. She turned to stare up at Jake.

“It’s much too fine for someone such as me.”

Jake put his arm around her again, and leaned in for another kiss. “I’d say, it’s not fine enough for someone such as you, but it’s the best I could do on short notice.”

Temperance gazed into his blue eyes as hers clouded over with tears. “Thank you, Jake. It’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for me.” She nestled up against his shoulder.

“Well, put your new bonnet on. I want to see if it’s as good on you as I thought it would be.”

She smiled and removed her faded and droopy bonnet from her head and placed the new one on her wavy brown hair. Once the bow under her chin was tied, she turned to Jake again as she ran the ribbons through her fingers. “I feel as if I’m a princess right now. Lordy, me. Such a fine bonnet.”

Yes, Jake was quite pleased with himself. Women weren’t so hard to figure out. All you had to do was show them you’re paying attention, and they fall in love with you. This winter in St. Louis was turning out to be fun. And with a respectable woman on his arm, no less. Who would have thought he, Jake Shelton, would be escorting such a good woman as Temperance around? He slapped the reins on the horse’s back and they continued their journey into town.

• • •

The social had been a good time. Temperance and Jake met other couples, who were part of the town’s business community. Temperance took an immediate liking to several of the young ladies who were not yet married, but “sparking,” as one woman put it.

Were she and Jake “sparking”? She wasn’t so sure. True, he had bought her a new bonnet, and a lovely one at that, but it was time for her to speed their relationship along, if she was going to get her family to Oregon in the spring.

As they headed out of town in the falling dusk, she turned to him, and raised a hand to caress the side of his face. He glanced over at her quickly and she caught the movement of his Adam’s apple before he grasped her gloved hand and kissed her on her exposed wrist. She took his gesture as a sign of approval, so she stretched her frame up and kissed his lips. His hand cupped the back of her head and they clung together as the horses trotted down the lane. Without breaking the kiss, Temperance pulled herself up off the seat and deposited her body into his lap. He moved his hand from the back of her head and encircled her body as they continued to kiss. His mouth moved downward as he nuzzled her neck.

Jake shifted the reins to the hand encircling her, and with the other one, unbuttoned her coat. He reached inside and let his hand drift over her bosom. Temperance could tell he was getting excited by the way his breathing became labored. She let him fondle her breast a bit longer, then broke from the kiss to stare at him.

“Sir, I believe you are taking advantage of me.” She hoped she sounded coy rather than as a shrew, and ran her hand down his cheek to soften her words before she moved away from him.