A Chance at Love (26 page)

“It was just a question, no need to snap.”

Loreli was instantly contrite. “Sorry. The answer is yes. It always hurts. I've just learned to bury it, that's all.”

He wished it weren't so dark so he could see her eyes to determine whether she was being flippant or serious. It was hard to tell the difference at times. “I'm putting folks on notice that I'm not tolerating you being slurred.”

She smiled a bit. “Thanks, but it isn't necessary. I can look after myself.”

“You shouldn't have to. That's your husband's job.”

Loreli raised an eyebrow. “My husband?”

“Yes. Whether it's in name only or not, I'm responsible for you.”

Loreli eyed him in the dark. “That's a nice thing to say,
but the only person responsible for Loreli is Loreli. That way no one gets hurt or disappointed.”

“Spoken like an independent woman.”

“Sarcasm?”

He shrugged in the dark. “Maybe. You've never had ties to anyone.”

“A few, but I never relied on them for my peace of mind or safety.”

“Why not?”

“I've been on my own too long, Jake. Seen too much despair and heartbreak. You rely only on yourself. If you don't have ties, you don't get hurt.”

“What about your tie to the girls. Is that real?”

She couldn't lie. “Very real. I fell in love with them the moment I met them. It'll be real hard letting them go.” And it would be. In the short time she'd been their mama, she'd come to care deeply for them.

“And what about your ties to me?”

Loreli didn't want to answer that, at least not truthfully. “We knew going into this that it would only be temporary, so whatever we share for however long this lasts is to be enjoyed, then we move on…”
So what if I think I'm in love with him
?

Jake turned his attention back to the night. “I see.”

An invisible wall seemed to drop between them, and it gave her pause. She asked, “You're still going to be looking for a
real
wife, right?”

“Yes.” It was the only reply Jake could give. He certainly couldn't tell her that he loved her and wanted no other. The admission was startling. When had she captured his heart so completely? He knew it would serve no
purpose to declare his feelings aloud. If he did, Jake was sure she'd fall off the porch laughing; gambling queens did not fall in love with small-town hog farmers.

“Good,” Loreli answered, with more confidence than she felt. “I don't want any misunderstandings about what's going on here.” To herself, however, she asked, who would ever believe she, Loreli Winters, would fall head over heels for a hog farmer? Everyone who knew her would wonder if she'd lost her mind. In a way she had. Jake Reed was decent and good. How could she not fall in love with a man who was kind to children and animals? There was no future in loving him though. They were from different worlds and she was no more willing to give up her way of life than he was willing to give up his.

“I think the water's probably hot now,” Loreli said. “I'm going to take my bath.”

He didn't offer to join her and that was all right; she needed to put some distance between them. She needed to think about some things, and she couldn't do that if he was near. “I'll see you in the morning?”

“Yep. Good night.

“Good night, Jake.”

In the tub in the dark, Loreli swatted at the insects buzzing around her ears and shoulders. She thought distancing herself from Jake and her feelings for him a necessary thing. He wasn't going to love her back, so the sooner she was able to rid herself of her attraction to him, the better off she'd be.

Once Jake was alone, he wanted to kick himself for having asked her such a loaded question. What had he expected her to say? Of course there would be no ties. He'd set that in stone when she agreed to do this. Surely he
didn't believe that what they'd shared last night would alter that agreement? Yet he had. He had feelings for her that seemed to be burning him up inside. Never in his life had a woman affected him so profoundly, and his hope that he'd affected her as well was illogical. He was dumb as a post for thinking she might return his feelings, and even dumber for having fallen in love with her in the first place.

 

The next day, Jake noted the slight coolness in Loreli's manner. She was no less loving toward the girls but seemed to be avoiding him and his eyes. He attributed her distance to the question he'd asked the night before and wanted to kick himself again for not keeping it to himself.

On Thursday, Loreli's bride friends rode over to help with the wedding fixings. Jake stayed out of the way. Later, he rode into town to talk with the sheriff.

When he entered the office, Walt Mack looked up and said, “Afternoon Jake, what brings you here?”

“Need to know if you'll read the words for my wedding?”

Mack smiled. “Sure. Be honored. Heard you and Miss Loreli were tying the knot. That's a lot more woman than country boys like us are used to. You sure you can handle her?”

The words were said in jest, and that's how Jake took them. “I think I'm up to the task.”

“Well, good. Nothing like confidence. What time shall I come around?”

“The wedding's going to be at five.”

“Then I'll come around four o'clock. Wear my best suit too.”

Jake smiled. “Good. Oh, Diggs was out at my place
yesterday. He threatened Loreli. She wanted me to let you know.”

“Mad as he was, I'm surprised he didn't confront her sooner. You should've seen his face when Peterson showed him that deed. I thought Sol was going to pop every button on his vest. Cursed her something awful on the ride back here. Did you tell Miss Loreli Sol's not dangerous, just greedy?”

Jake chuckled. “I did, but I just wanted to let you know in case something happens. I'm more worried about his safety than hers, to tell you the truth.”

Mack nodded knowingly. “I wouldn't want to cross her. Any woman who can play poker the way she can is not a lady to take lightly. Maybe Diggs'll remember that the next time he sees her. He's not invited to the wedding, I take it?”

“Not as far as I know. It's supposed to be a small affair.”

“Well, weddings sometimes take on a life all their own, so keep your powder dry.”

An amused Jake said, “Sure will.”

The sheriff looked at Jake. “Need to talk to you about something else.”

“What?”

“Knights of Labor.”

“What about them?”

“Diggs is telling folks that you're bringing them in to start trouble.”

“The only folks causing trouble are greedy capitalists like Diggs and his pals. If farmers were treated fairly, there'd be no need for groups like the Knights.”

“Well, just wanted to let you know what I'm hearing.”

“Thanks, Walt.”

“You're welcome. My daddy farmed when I was a boy, and we lost the land and everything on it when the mortgage came due, so I know what men like Peterson and the others are facing. Just don't cause any trouble, Jake. My sympathies may be with you, but I was elected to keep the peace and I plan on doing that.”

“You don't have to worry. We won't be breaking any laws.”

“Good. Then I'll see you on Saturday.”

“Thanks, Walt. See you then.”

With that small chore out of the way, Jake rode home.

The brides were gone when Jake returned. In fact, there was no one in the house, so he stepped out onto the back porch. He saw Dede over by Rabbit, but he didn't see Bebe or Loreli anywhere.

Dede was attempting to tie a fat gold ribbon around Rabbit's neck, but the dog kept twisting and turning away. When Jake walked up, his obviously frustrated niece said, “Hello, Uncle Jake. Loreli said I can tie this around Rabbit so he can look pretty for the wedding, but he won't stand still. Do you think it's because he's a boy dog?”

Jake hid his smile. “Could be. Maybe Rabbit would rather just look like himself.”

“But everybody's supposed to dress up.”

Jake shrugged. “Sometimes animals don't know about people rules, De.”

She gave in. “Okay. Suzie didn't want to wear a ribbon either.”

Jake had no trouble believing that. “Where's Loreli and your sister?”

“Loreli's giving Bebe a riding lesson. They'll be right back.”

And all of sudden they came barreling out from behind the barn at a speed that widened Jake's eyes. Loreli was holding the reins and Bebe was seated behind her, Bebe's arms fastened tightly around Loreli's waist. Jake knew Phoebe could run, but he never knew the big mare could run so fast. The horse and its riders streaked by them, racing across the open fields.

Dede watched them silently. “Phoebe's going real fast isn't she, Uncle Jake?”

“Yes, she is. How many times have they come through here?”

“Three. Loreli said they'd race four times, then she's going to show Be how to cool Phoebe off so she won't get sick from running so fast.”

Jake thought that made perfect sense. Racing the animal that way and then not tending to her afterward would only make the horse ill down the road. It pleased him that Loreli was giving Bebe the responsibility of looking after the animal's care as well as helping Bebe prepare for the Circle race.

“Are you mad at Loreli?” Dede asked.

Jake searched her eyes. “No.”

“Then how come you don't smile at her anymore?”

The honesty in her face made Jake look away. “I don't know, De.”

“Well, I think you should kiss and make up.”

He chuckled. Out of the mouths of babes. He couldn't tell her that kissing is how this all got started in the first place. Instead, he assured her, “Loreli and I will be smiling again before you know it.”

“Good. I like it when you smile and she smiles back.”

“You do?”

“Yes, Uncle Jake. You didn't smile a lot before she came.”

He shook his head in response to this wise eight-year-old. “Are you enjoying having Loreli here with us?”

“Oh, yes, very much. Are you?”

He didn't lie. “Yes, I am.”

“I hope you can't find us another mama, and she has to stay forever.”

Jake didn't respond to that. “Well, I'm going out to the barn and put Fox in for the evening.”

“Okay, Uncle Jake. Rabbit and I'll wait for Loreli and Be to get back.”

“I'll come wait with you soon as I'm done with Fox.”

She nodded and hugged Rabbit.

That evening, Jake took the bed and frame upstairs into Loreli's room and put it together. Last night the mattress had rested on the floor, but now it lay atop her big bed. The fancy purple quilt made it look very inviting, and Jake had to stop himself from wondering how it might feel to sleep in the bed with her by his side. There were a couple of chairs, a writing desk by the window, and one of the chifforobes stood gleaming against a wall. Atop it were all of her lotions, creams, and perfumes. His gaze took in the curtain she'd hung over the window, and the soft light given off by the lamps. He realized she'd transformed the place from the dark and joyless space his father had known into a woman's boudoir. There wasn't anything left of the old room to remind him of his father but everything to remind Jake of the sensual new owner.

Loreli watched him scan around. “Do you like it?”

He met her eyes. “It looks real fine, Loreli.”

“Loreli said we can help her paint in here later this summer,” Bebe said.

Jake smiled.

“Loreli said we can come up and visit her anytime,” Dede added.

Jake wondered if he'd be extended the same courtesy. “You and the ladies couldn't figure out how to get that headboard in the house either?”

This was the closest they'd been to each other in the last few days, and both could feel the heat arching between them in spite of the walls they'd been attempting to erect. Jake wanted to touch her cheek to see if it was as soft as it had been the last time he'd caressed it, and Loreli longed to be enfolded within his strong, tender embrace.

In the end, though, they all trooped back downstairs, leaving the moment behind.

 

The day of the wedding dawned bright and full of promise. The brides began arriving around ten that morning, bringing with them food, decorations, tableware, china, and lots of excitement. Wilma Deets had been a hairdresser before coming to Kansas to be a bride, and she'd volunteered to turn her talents on the twins. While she took the girls to the back porch to get started, the rest of the day's preparations began in earnest.

Loreli was up in her boudoir, sequestered until the wedding. She'd never liked sitting around, but Fanny had been assigned to keep her company, and to keep Loreli away from the goings on downstairs, so passing the time wasn't as bad as it could have been.

Loreli asked Fanny, “How's your husband?”

“I miss him so. He writes, though. I've gotten letters nearly everyday.”

“He's a Pullman porter, right?” Loreli confirmed.

“Yes, but from what he's written in his letters, it may not be for much longer.”

“Why, is he unhappy working for Mr. Pullman?”

“Extremely. Some of the working conditions aren't to his liking. For example, did you know that the porters have to smile, or risk being replaced?”

“No.”

“Some of the passengers know this, however, and taunt the men just to see if the porters will continue to smile. My husband has been cuffed and kicked by folks intent upon seeing how far they can go before he loses his temper, but he can't lose his temper, so he takes the abuse without a word. Some give him a nice tip for being forced to endure their mean-spirited shenanigans—as if that makes it all better.”

“Have the porters complained?”