Love Inspired Historical November 2014 (57 page)

“I gave it to her yesterday to play with,” Agnes answered as Molly nodded.

“What if she breaks it?” Leah asked, still concerned.

Agnes smiled at Molly. “She'll be careful.”

Leah buttered a piece of bread. She felt uncomfortable letting Molly play with the tea set but didn't want to upset Agnes.

“The stage will be arriving a little before lunch. I thought I'd add some of that ham to the beans,” Agnes mused as she nursed her coffee.

“Do you think we'll have any guests?” Leah dreaded having boarders. It had been a couple of days since Mr. Dalton had left. If he was any indication of how stage passengers behaved, she'd really rather not see anyone stay.

Agnes stood. “I'm not sure. We'll need to clean the rooms and put fresh sheets on the beds.”

“I'll take care of that,” Leah volunteered. She gathered up their dirty plates and carried them to the wash bucket.

“Good. That will give me a chance to mop the floors down here and dust.” Agnes grabbed the dish towel and began drying the dishes that Leah washed.

Leah hated to think of Agnes pushing a heavy mop about the floor. Lately she'd noticed that the older woman stood with her hand on her back more times than not. “If you'll dust and sweep, I'll be happy to mop once I get things taken care of upstairs,” she offered.

“Now see here, Leah Hollister. I'm not so old that I can't do my share of the work around here. I appreciate all that you've done, but if you keep doing all the hard work I'm going to get fat and sassy.”

Molly looked up at Agnes's sharp tone.

“I'm sorry. I didn't mean to imply you were,” she offered the woman a grin. “If you want to mop, I don't have a problem with that.”

Agnes sighed. “I'm sorry, that came out sharper than I intended. You've been a big help to me and I appreciate it.”

Leah hugged her. “No harm done. Besides, I wouldn't want you getting fat.”

Agnes laughed. “Are you implying I'm sassy?”

“Nope. Not me. I think I'll head upstairs and get those rooms cleaned.” Leah released her friend and turned to leave. “Molly, are you coming with me?”

Molly shook her head and pointed to her doll and tea set.

“Leave her. Small fry can help me, if I need help.”

Leah nodded and then hurried up the stairs. There was a lot of work to be done and a short time to do it. The stage would be here soon and lunch would need to be ready to put on the table.

As she cleaned, her thoughts went to Jake. What was he doing this morning? She'd missed him at breakfast. Did he think about her as much as she thought about him?

She took a deep breath. Best not to worry about where he was or whether he was thinking about her. Leah didn't want to become dependent on Jake. There was always the possibility that he'd change his mind about marrying her. New thoughts of abandonment tore through her mind. Would he leave her standing in front of the preacher, alone?

Chapter Ten

T
he stagecoach was late. Jake just hoped that it hadn't run into any trouble. It was bad enough that Mr. Porter had been robbed a couple of weeks ago. With the Indians unhappy because new settlers were taking more and more of their land, and Julesburg attracting outlaws like flies on rotten fruit, traveling in these parts had become a dangerous business. He said a quick prayer for the stagecoach and any passengers it might have on it before tossing a small pair of skates over his shoulder and heading up to the house.

Jake opened the door to find Molly dancing about in her coat, gloves and scarf. Leah sat at the table dressed to match his niece. The only difference was the color of the ribbons in their hair. “Well, aren't you two just the prettiest ladies.” Jake picked up Molly and swung her around.

“Thank you,” Leah answered for both of them.

His gaze met and held hers. “Ready?”

A look of dread filled Leah's face. “Not really.”

Jake asked himself what could possibly be wrong. She'd seemed pleased at the idea a few days ago. “Have you changed your mind about going?”

“No, but I've never skated before. I'm just nervous about getting on the ice with them on.” Leah picked up the blades that Agnes was sharing with her and stood up.

He gave her what he hoped was a reassuring smile. “If we get out to the river and you don't want to skate, you don't have to.” Jake took the skates from her and placed them over his shoulder. Then he took both her hand and Molly's in his. “I don't want either of my girls to feel like they have to do anything that makes them nervous. We can have fun without getting on the ice.”

Jake felt self-conscious as he realized he'd just called Leah his girl. That wasn't the way he thought of her at all, he told himself. She wasn't his. They weren't even married yet.

Was he letting her into his heart? Surely not! Caring for Leah too much could land him with a broken heart again. No, Leah wasn't his girl and she never would be. Sally had been his girl, or so he'd thought until she'd up and married his brother.

Was it fair to compare Leah to Sally? He mentally argued with himself. Yes, they were both women and women were hazardous to a man's heart.

To take his thoughts off Leah and women in general, Jake turned to Molly. “I found a pair of skates for you at the general store.” He dropped Leah's hand and pulled the skates off his shoulder. “Here you go. What do you think of them?”

The little girl turned the skates about as if she were studying them so she could answer him. After several long moments, Molly gave him a big smile and hugged him about the waist.

He scooped his niece up into his arms and gave her a bear hug. “I'm glad you like them. Now let's go see if you can skate on them.”

At her nod, Jake headed toward the river, aware that Leah followed close behind.

* * *

Leah sat on one of the many logs that someone had placed in a circle on the riverbank. A campfire blazed in the center. She marveled at how everyone had pulled together and created a fun place. Someone had roped off an area for skating and Jake had told Molly not to pass the ropes.

Jake held Molly's hands and stood behind her as the two of them skated on the frozen water. She'd still not gotten up the nerve to join them. The sound of his laughter and Molly's squeals told her that they were having fun.

She thought about him calling her his girl. Leah told herself it meant nothing; after all, he'd called Molly his girl, too. Still, her heart had done a little flip-flop.

Leah reminded herself that he couldn't really think of her in that manner. And she refused to hold the hope that he could. He needed her to watch Molly, nothing more. Would that be enough to keep him from leaving her? Leah didn't know. Would she ever be able to trust that he wouldn't leave her? What about after Molly was grown? Would Jake leave her then? Again Leah didn't know, it would be foolish on her part to expect anyone to love her forever considering her own parents hadn't loved her enough to keep her with them.

“It looks fun, doesn't it?” Ike asked.

Leah looked about to see that he had sat down on the log beside her. Ike picked up a stick and poked at the fire.

“Yes, but I'm afraid to try it,” Leah confessed.

Ike looked up at her and studied her face before he asked, “Why?”

Leah picked up one of the skates and held it up for him to see. “These do not look safe to me.”

Ike chuckled. “Good point. I've never been fond of them, either.” He placed a few more small twigs on the fire.

She pulled her coat tighter around her. Leah continued to watch Jake and Molly. He spun his niece on the ice as if he'd skated all his life. Who knew? Maybe he had.

“Jake's a good skater. Molly's safe with him,” Ike assured her.

Leah nodded. “I know. I've been watching them now for about thirty minutes. You'd think they'd both be tired, but they sure don't look like it.”

“Nope, he can skate like that for hours.”

She turned on the log to face him. “Jake comes out here and skates a lot?”

Ike nodded. “I think it helps him think.” He grinned at her. “My ma was the same way. In the winter, she'd strap on the skates and go to our little pond. Sometimes she'd be gone for hours, but she'd come home refreshed and ready to take on the world.” Sadness filled his eyes and he looked away.

Leah guessed Ike to be about sixteen years old. At the moment, it appeared that sorrow weighed on his shoulders like a hump on an old woman's back. She asked, “What happened to your ma?”

He sighed. “She died when I was sixteen.”

Sixteen? Had she died recently, then? Empathy overwhelmed her. She'd lost both her parents before she could even remember them. This young man had just recently lost his. “I'm sorry.”

“Thank you, but it wasn't your fault. It was mine.”

Shock washed over Leah. What did he mean, his fault? Before she could ask, Ike excused himself and walked away.

Leah turned her attention back to the skaters. Jake, Molly, Cole and Timothy moved along the ice. It looked as if they were gliding instead of skating.

She heard Cole yell, “Hey, Jake, want to race?”

“Now's not a good time,” he called back, making a point to look down at Molly.

Timothy taunted him. “Aw, Cole, you know Jake isn't as fast as us, he's afraid he'll lose.”

Leah wondered what Jake's response would be. He ignored them and continued to focus on keeping Molly upright.

“That's right. He's too old to keep up with us,” Cole added.

It was playful banter and Leah laughed.

“They sure are having fun out there.” Agnes joined her with a big basket.

“What's in the basket?” Leah asked.

“Ham, bread, pickles, cheese, dried apples and dried peaches.” She set the basket down at her feet and rubbed her gloved hands together. “Did I hear those boys trying to challenge Jake to a race?”

Leah nodded. She returned to watching the skaters.

“What did he say?”

“He told them now's not the time. And now he's ignoring them.” She smiled as Jake swung Molly on the ice. She could see the little girl's big grin.

“Let me have those skates.” Agnes held out her hand for the blades.

Leah watched as Agnes began strapping them on her feet. “You're going to go out there?” she asked in disbelief.

“Yep. I'm going to skate off to the side with Molly and watch that man of yours beat the ice off those boys in a race.” Agnes chuckled at her own play on words.

Ike returned with more wood for the fire. “Anything to eat in that basket?” he asked.

“Sandwich makings, dried apples and dried peaches.” Agnes set the last strap into place. “Be back shortly.”

The way she walked to the edge of the river, it looked as if her ankles might snap. “Be careful,” Leah called after her.

Once on the ice, Agnes had no trouble getting to Jake and Molly. She said something to Jake. He smiled and then sped off to join Cole and Timothy. Agnes took Molly's hand and they moved to the sidelines.

Jake and the young riders skated to one end of the marked-off area and looked to Agnes. She raised her hand high and then lowered it swiftly. With Jake in the middle of the other two, they sped off.

Cole was in the lead, then Timothy.

Jake cruised along behind them, looking at ease. He looked to where she sat and waved. Why wasn't he racing? The other two were way ahead and bumping elbows to keep each other from getting ahead.

At the same time, the young riders noticed that Jake wasn't with them. They both slowed and looked behind them.

Jake shot forward and passed them both.

Their mouths dropped open and then their minds clicked as they realized Jake was in the lead. With a flourish of action, the two young men pressed forward but they were too late.

They had agreed that whoever got to the opposite rope border first would win, establishing an imaginary line. Jake beat them to it. He spun on his skates, sending up a spray of ice.

Molly jumped up and down, clapping her hands.

Cole and Timothy groaned and hung their heads.

Leah realized that she had stood up and was squealing with happiness to see him win. He'd outsmarted the younger boys and won.

“I knew he'd win,” Ike said around a mouthful of dried peaches.

Leah laughed, relieved that he didn't look as sad as he had earlier. “How did you know?”

He shrugged. “Jake always wins.”

Ike began constructing a ham and cheese sandwich.

Leah sat back down. She realized once again that she knew very little about her future husband. One thing she did know was that, since he enjoyed being on the ice so much, he probably would like a break from babysitting Molly. She watched as he and Agnes played with the little girl.

If ice skating was a big part of Jake's life, then Leah decided she needed to learn how to skate, too. “Ike? Do you have a pair of skates I can borrow?” she asked, still watching Agnes and Jake.

“Sure. I don't use them often but I do have a pair. I'll go get them.” He left, munching on his sandwich.

Leah leaned forward and warmed her hands. Her heart began to pound in her chest as she thought about putting on the skates. The blades were so thin she worried she'd fall.

Cole and Timothy had a ball and were hitting it back and forth with sticks. Leah wasn't sure what they were playing, but they seemed to be keeping score as they yelled out points when the ball passed one of them.

“Here you are,” Ike said, returning.

Leah took the skates and looked at them. The blades looked sharp and were curled at the toes. She assumed the curled metal would help her stop on the ice. Leather straps hung off to the sides.

“Let's get you closer to the river before you put them on.” Ike picked up one of the logs and started forward. “You can sit on the wood while we get the straps on around your boots.”

I can do this
, Leah silently said to herself as she followed.
There's nothing to it. If Molly can do it, surely I can
. Still, her heart took up a tempo that frightened her even further.

Ike set the log down and motioned for her to sit. Leah did as he asked, breathing hard. He knelt in front of her and waited for Leah to hold up her foot so he could strap on a skate.

She watched as he wrapped the leather around her boot and secured it. The sound of scraping against ice drew her eyes upward.

Jake stood behind Ike, grinning. “Decided to join us?”

Ike finished fastening the skates and stepped back. He offered her one of his hands. “Here, let me help you stand.”

Leah's hand shook as she took his. Her legs felt like jelly as she stood. She knew she was going to fall and gripped Ike's hand tighter.

Jake stepped forward and took her other hand. The two men pulled her to the ice.

Ike handed her other hand to Jake. “She's all yours, old buddy.” Laughter filled his words.

Leah began to wobble. She looked down at the skates, praying her skirt didn't fly up when she fell.

Jake ordered in a warm, firm voice, “Look up, Leah.”

She did as he said, but looked over his shoulder at the hard ice of the river. Her legs trembled, her breath quickened and her heart threatened to leap from her throat.

“Now, focus on me. Don't take your eyes off my face. Understand?” Jake gently pulled her toward him.

Leah looked into his coffee-colored eyes. She saw assurance and the request to trust him. A blur of fabric spun past them. Leah jerked her head to the side to see who it was. Her legs began to go in two different directions. She gasped.

Jake pulled her against him to keep her from falling. His warm chest and arms supported her flailing body. “Leah.”

The huskiness of his voice drew her gaze back to his. She stood so close she could feel the warmth of his breath on her face. His hands locked securely around her arms and his compelling eyes riveted her to the spot.

His voice softened once more. “You are all right. Just focus and trust me. Let your body movements find the rhythm with mine.”

His breath smelled of apple cider, clean and fresh. She allowed her body to relax while he held her upright. Her pulse skittered alarmingly. “See?” His voiced soothed, “You are fine.”

Leah forced out the word, “Yes,” her voice shakier than she would have liked.

“We can stand just like this until you're ready to move,” he offered, easing the pressure from her arms.

Leah missed the warmth his body had radiated. She inhaled a deep breath.

“Bend your knees slightly, Leah, and lean toward me just a bit.”

She followed Jake's instructions. Leah wanted to lose herself in his dark brown eyes, but this was no time to stand and stare. Especially when the corners crinkled as he smiled at her.