A Groom's Promise Read online

  “And you think he won’t be nervous when there’s a threat?”

  “What could pose a threat?”

  “Say there’s an outlaw who stumbles on this land. Jack’s likely to run and hide whereas Hugh would get out there and defend you and this property.”

  She chuckled. “Pa, that’s nonsense. In all the time you’ve lived here, there hasn’t been a single outlaw who’s come by.”

  “The point is, it could happen. If it does, you need someone you can depend on.”

  Knowing there could be no winning the argument, she settled for nodding.

  “You want pancakes and bacon this morning?” she asked.

  “That’ll be fine,” her pa replied.

  Relieved the conversation was over, she hurried to the kitchen. She slipped on her apron, and as she did, she noticed something in her pocket. Curious, she pulled out the small cardboard piece and read the note on it.

  Dear Maybell,

  The sweet fragrance of autumn, as signified in this bouquet, has arrived, and there’s no one I’d rather share this splendor with than you. Fall is the time before this type of beauty goes to hide. But your sweetness lasts forever.

  Your admirer, Jack Warren

  Her heart leapt in excitement, and she rushed into the dining room. The same flowers from yesterday were in the dining room, but there was a fresh bouquet of flowers in the parlor. The card left no doubt the flowers from yesterday and today had to be from Jack. Perhaps he’d been too shy to leave the note before. Or maybe the ones from yesterday had really been from Hugh, as her pa said, but this morning’s bouquet was from Jack.

  Even if Hugh had an interest, she was assured Jack did, too. All she had to do was let Jack know she returned his feelings, and perhaps, they might be able to work something out so her pa would let him marry her. When there was love, anything was possible. It was just a matter of finding a way.

  Excited, she put the note back into her pocket and started making breakfast.

  ***

  Jack struggled not to show his anger. Hugh avoided talking to him all day yesterday, and by the time he made it to the bunkhouse, Hugh was too sleepy to talk. Though Jack tried to wake him, he only let out a grunt and rolled onto his other side. Hugh was a heavy sleeper. Nothing short of a pail full of cold water on his head would startle him awake.

  And this morning when Jack woke up, Hugh was already dressed and out of the bunkhouse. Breakfast was just as awkward. Not only was there a fresh bouquet of flowers in the parlor, but Archie was once again insisting Hugh sit next to Maybell. Jack hadn’t given her those flowers, and he doubted Archie did. Those had to be from Hugh.

  After breakfast when Jack tracked Hugh down in the barn to ask him about it, Hugh just said, “I was awake and thought to do them for you. Don’t worry. She got your card. She’ll think they’re from you.”

  Then Archie came into the barn and told them it was time to take care of the wheat. “Jack, there’s a hole in the roof developing.” He pointed to the barn ceiling. “I need you to go up there and stop it from getting worse.”

  So that put an end to the conversation because he wasn’t able to go to the field with Hugh. Archie probably wanted to talk to Hugh anyway, and if he guessed right, the topic would involve how happy he’d be if Hugh courted Maybell.

  Just what was Hugh doing? It was his idea for Jack to give her flowers. Did he change his mind? Was that what Archie meant about them not needing to build the house on this property? Was Hugh planning to marry Maybell and move into that house? Did he intend for Jack to stay out in the bunkhouse? If so, the least Hugh could do was tell him instead of avoiding him.

  All his life, he’d thought Hugh was honest with him about everything. Jack thought they hadn’t kept any secrets from each other. But maybe he was wrong. Maybe it was just him who’d never kept secrets from Hugh.

  “I feel like such a fool,” he muttered.

  He found a ladder leaning along a wall and grabbed it. He made it to the open doorway in time to see Maybell coming toward him. For a moment, he wondered if she was hoping to see Hugh, but she looked directly at him and called out his name.

  He relaxed and waited for her to reach him. She was especially pretty today, what with her hair falling in gentle waves past her shoulders and wearing the green dress that showed off her lovely curves.

  “Do you need something, Maybell?” he asked as he set the ladder down. Whatever she wanted, he’d do it in a heartbeat.

  “I only wanted to thank you for the flowers,” she said. “I didn’t find your card until this morning. Otherwise, I would have thanked you yesterday.”

  It was on the tip of his tongue to tell her he hadn’t given her the flowers in the parlor, but then he thought better of it. Why should he make things easier for Hugh? Archie was already sitting her with him during the meals.

  “Your card was the best thing I ever received,” she continued. “You have the heart of a poet.”

  “I’m glad you liked it.”

  “Oh, I do. In fact, I love it. I’ll cherish it for as long as I live.”

  Then, to his pleasure, she kissed his cheek. No woman had ever kissed him before, let alone touched him unless she needed his help getting into a wagon, and even then, it was usually the elderly ladies at the church. This kiss with Maybell was altogether different. And he liked it. He liked it a lot.

  “Um, Maybell,” he began, thinking of dinner the previous evening and breakfast that morning. “I notice your pa wants you to sit with my brother when we eat.”

  “Oh, that.” She shifted from one foot to another then let out a long sigh. “I don’t want to sit next to him. I told my pa as much, but…well…”

  “Your pa prefers Hugh.”

  She nodded.

  “But you don’t?” he asked. She had thanked him for the flowers and card and had kissed him. She hadn’t done the same for Hugh. So he had a reason to hope. At least, it was more of a reason than any other lady had given him.

  “Hugh’s nice enough, but I don’t want to be with him that way. I’d rather just keep things friendly with him, you know what I mean?”

  Well, this was an even more promising sign. “So if I wanted to court you, you’d say yes?”

  She smiled then, and her cheeks turned the loveliest shade of pink. “Are you asking?”

  “That depends.”

  “On what?”

  “On whether or not you’ll say yes.”

  She laughed and gave his arm a playful tap. “You’re a sly one, Jack Warren. I think you already know my answer, so there’s no need for me to come out and say it.”

  Despite the anxious flutter in his chest, he couldn’t help but grin. “Maybe I want to hear it.”

  “And maybe I want you to ask it.”

  “Alright, but if you say no, then I take it back.”

  “You can’t do that.”

  “Of course, I can. It’s my question.”

  She tilted her head to the side and studied him. “The day I met you, you had the most innocent expression on your face, and now I find out you’re crafty.”

  “Alright. Since you’re determined to make this difficult for me, I’m asking. Can I court you?”

  “Yes, you can. Now, that wasn’t so difficult after all, was it?”

  “It was painful,” he said, though there was a hint of teasing in his tone that betrayed his real feelings on the matter. Turning more serious, he added, “I’ll talk to your pa and see if he’ll change his mind about fixing you up with Hugh.”

  “Would you?”

  “I have to if I’m going to be able to court you.”

  She hugged him. “That’s really gentlemanly of you to seek his permission.”

  Since she hadn’t stopped hugging him, he ventured to put his arms around her and brought her closer to him. This was nice. Oh, who was he kidding? This was a lot better than nice. It was absolutely wonderful. Who knew a woman felt this good?

  Someone cleared his throat, and Jack quickly
released Maybell. Turning his gaze to the doorway, he saw Ada, who was holding her son, and Pete, who was standing next to her, eyebrows raised in interest.

  “Ada!” Maybell said. “I didn’t expect you and Pete to come out today. What a wonderful surprise.”

  “We thought we’d come by for a visit,” Ada replied.

  “It’s certainly nice to have you over.” She glanced at Jack. “I can go with Ada to the house and get some leftover tarts out if you’d like to visit for a while.”

  “I should do the roof first,” Jack said. “It’s a small repair. It’ll only take fifteen minutes.”

  “Pete can help,” Ada added. “He just did some work on our roof.”

  “Shouldn’t you let Pete know you’re volunteering him to help?” Maybell asked.

  “Oh, yes.” Ada handed Fred to Maybell and signed to him.

  Pete nodded, went over to Jack, and picked up the ladder.

  “When you’re done, come on to the house,” Maybell told him as she made a couple signs to Pete.

  After she and Ada left for the house, Jack hurried to grab the box of supplies he’d need to take care of the roof.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Later that day, Jack shifted from one foot to another in the barn. Maybell had rung the dinner bell moments ago. Soon, Hugh and Archie would return from the field. Since Hugh was probably avoiding him, Jack didn’t think he’d get a chance to talk to him. But Jack was alright with that, for the moment. He didn’t have to talk to him about getting Archie’s permission to court Maybell.

  He took deep breaths in an effort to calm down, but it didn’t work. His heart wouldn’t stop hammering in his chest, nor would his palms stop sweating. He took his hat off and brushed his hair back with his fingers, the simple action doing more to help ease his nerves than all the deep breaths did.

  Jack put the hat back on his head and turned to the doorway of the barn, wondering when Archie and Hugh would get there. After another long minute of waiting, Jack finally decided to put hay in the troughs for the horses. It was early to be doing this, but he didn’t know what else to do. He’d just finished the task when someone came into the barn.

  Looking over his shoulder, he saw that Archie was alone. His first worry was that Hugh might be talking to Maybell, but then he remembered Maybell didn’t have a romantic interest in Hugh and relaxed.

  “Why are you putting hay in the troughs so early?” Archie asked.

  Jack shrugged as he put the rake back. “I-I did-didn’t…” He forced himself to slow his words. “I didn’t see the harm in it.” Yes, he realized he sounded abnormally slow as he made his explanation since he took a breath between each word, but at least he’d managed to stop stuttering.

  “I suppose there’s no harm in it,” Archie allowed. “Just never saw you do it before, that’s all.”

  When Jack saw him heading to one of the stalls, he asked, “C-can I speak to y-you?” He winced. Great. He was stuttering again, but Archie was moving so fast, he was afraid he wouldn’t be able to get all the words out if he spoke clearly.

  Archie paused at the stall door and turned to face him. “What’s on your mind?”

  “Well, I, um…” He cleared his throat and dug his hands into his pockets. “Y-you p-probably,” he paused and focused on slowing down, “want Hugh to marry Maybell.”

  “Yes, I do.” Archie crossed his arms. “I know you’ve taken a liking to her, but I already arranged for Hugh to marry her.”

  Had he not been assured Maybell wanted to be with him, this would be the point where he would have thanked Archie for his time and found another chore to do. But since he did know she preferred him to Hugh, he forced out, “Maybe I-I can offer y-you a b-better deal.”

  “I don’t see how.”

  “I-I have m-money. I have m-more than Hugh. It c-can be used for the m-materials y-you w-want to b-build more things.” He wiped his brow. This was harder than he thought it’d be.

  Archie studied him for a long moment then asked, “How do you have this money?”

  “I, um, have my grandfather’s g-gold pocket watch a-and my ma’s g-gold ring. I c-can sell them. I-I g-gave Hugh my m-money to help pay y-you for the land.” He cleared his throat. “I made the m-money for fixing things b-back in Virginia.”

  “Don’t your grandfather’s pocket watch and mother’s ring mean something to you?”

  “Well…yes. They do.” It was all he had to remember them by. His ma had been a good woman—an outstanding one—and his grandfather had treated him better than his father. He’d miss the family treasures, but he needed something to bargain with in order for Archie to consider his proposal. “I-I’d like to marry y-your daughter.”

  Archie didn’t answer right away, and Jack was sure it meant he’d say no. Jack was nothing like Hugh. Why Maybell even wanted to be with him instead of Hugh baffled him. But he wasn’t going to dwell on why. He was just going to accept his good fortune and do everything he could to make sure she never regretted her decision.

  “I’m her father,” Archie said, “and I have to consider what’s best for her. You and Hugh are both good, decent men, but I think Hugh is the better choice.”

  Hugh was the better choice. It was something his father often told him, no matter what the task was. Hugh had always been the better choice. But that didn’t mean he was necessarily the right choice.

  “I-I know I’m not as g-good as Hugh,” Jack granted, “b-but I love her and will treat her w-well.”

  “A woman needs more than love. She needs someone who can protect her.”

  “I-I can do that.”

  “I don’t know if you can. It seems like you’re afraid of your own shadow. It took a lot just to get you to have your meals with us, and I’m not sure you ever would have come in if I didn’t demand she stop bringing food out to you.”

  Jack didn’t know how to respond to that. Her pa had a point. A good one. But if he needed to, he could protect her. “I-I can protect M-Maybell as well as Hugh can.”

  “I have no doubt you want to.”

  Jack waited for him to continue, but when he didn’t, Jack finally asked, “H-how much is Hugh giving you for her?”

  Archie blinked in surprise. “I agreed to help him get a small loan in order to pay for the land I sold him. In return for that help, he’ll marry Maybell. I’m sorry, Jack, but the answer is no. She’s going to marry your brother. The sooner you accept that, the better.”

  “W-what if she doesn’t want to marry him?”

  “Sometimes a parent needs to tell the child what’s best for her. I don’t expect you to understand it, but someday, when you’re a father, you will.”

  “And Hugh agreed to this?” It didn’t sound like something Hugh would agree to, but since he was purposely avoiding him, Jack figured it might be the case.

  “Hugh’s smart. He knows what’s good for him.” Archie shifted and put his hands in his pockets. “If it’s going to be a problem, then maybe you can work at O’Mallery’s farm. He’s looking for a young man who can fix up some of his old things. You’re good at it. I can suggest he hire you.”

  Jack shook his head. “I-I don’t want that.”

  “Then you’ll have to stay in this bunkhouse or get your own house built on the land you and Hugh were planning to build on. The choice is yours. If you change your mind, let me know.”

  It was on the tip of Jack’s tongue to say Maybell didn’t want to be with Hugh, but what good would it have done? Archie had made up his mind. If Jack had learned nothing else from his years of being with his father, it was that once a man set his mind to something, the conversation was over. What Jack needed to do was find a way to prove himself.

  In this case, he needed to prove that Archie was wrong about him—that he was just as capable of doing things as Hugh was. The only way he could think to start doing that was by going to town on his own and selling the pocket watch and ring. It was a small step, but it was a step in the right direction. After all, Hugh had n
o trouble going to town by himself. Maybe if Archie saw Jack do it, too, he would at least consider letting Jack marry his daughter.

  The dinner bell rang again, and Archie let out a long sigh. “I’ll get to the tack box later.” He turned toward the barn door. “You coming?”

  “No,” Jack answered, shocked Archie would even suggest such a thing.

  “No?” Archie asked. “Why? Because I won’t let you marry my daughter?”

  “You can’t expect me to watch you place Maybell next to Hugh again.”

  “How are you going to eat?”

  “Let me worry about that. I’m an adult, not a child.”

  Archie looked at him for a moment as if he hadn’t expected such a response but then he shrugged. “Alright.”

  Jack waited until Archie left before he headed for the bunkhouse. He’d figure out something. Somehow, someway, he’d do whatever it took to marry Maybell.

  ***

  “Where’s Jack?” Maybell asked after her pa sat down at the dining table.

  “He decided to get his meal elsewhere this evening,” her pa said as he picked up his fork. “He’s a grown man. He can fend for himself.” He glanced between her and Hugh. “Why aren’t you sitting next to him?”

  Because she didn’t want to marry him. The answer was on the tip of her tongue, but it occurred to her if she spoke it, it would mean her pa wouldn’t tell her what happened with Jack. She mustn’t let him distract her from the more pressing issue. “Pa, I don’t understand. Why doesn’t Jack want to come in to eat?”

  “I didn’t ask.”

  She stared at him, unable to believe he was being stubborn about this. She had no doubt Jack had asked him if he could court her, and she also had no doubt her pa had said no, which was exactly why he didn’t come in for supper. She knew her pa was hoping she’d get married, but she had no idea he wanted her to be with Hugh so badly he’d say no to Jack.

  Folding her napkin, she set it on the table and rose to her feet. “I’m not hungry. I’ll clean up after you men are done.”