The Lumberjack's Bride (10 page)

Maggie smiled at them. “Tomorrow is the annual picnic. I love the annual picnic. It's one of the few days of the year I don't have to eat my own slop.”

Julianne pulled her gaze away from Caleb. “What should I take?” She snuggled Jonathan close to her chest.

“Lots of food. There will be plenty of loggers and only a few ladies there. Which reminds me, I need to get back to camp and start on my food for tomorrow.” Maggie stood to her feet.

Caleb stepped to the side of the door to allow her room to pass.

“I'll see you two tomorrow.” Maggie waved as she left.

Julianne followed her to the porch. “Thanks for coming by, Maggie. Please, come again soon.”

Maggie climbed up onto her horse and surprised Julianne by straddling his back. The older woman gathered the reins in her hands and winked at Julianne. “Thanks, I will.” She turned the horse and galloped out of sight.

Julianne's thoughts raced. She had to wash clothes so that she would have a clean dress for tomorrow. There was food that needed to be prepared and she needed a bath.

Jonathan began to fuss.

“And you need to be fed.” She pulled the baby closer to her and bounced him.

Caleb came to stand beside her. “I'll feed him for you, Julianne.”

“Thanks but I can do it.” She returned to the kitchen and prepared the baby's bottle. The rubber nipple smelled bad and no longer fit the bottle correctly.

“Maybe this will fit better.” Caleb held out a little wooden nipple.

Julianne jumped at the sound of his voice. He stood so close she could smell the earthy scent of him. Her gaze moved to the small nipple and the large, hand that held it out.

“Thank you.” She took the nipple and fitted it onto the bottle. Julianne examined the tiny hole in the top of it. She turned the full bottle upside down. Small drops of milk landed on her wrist. Not enough to drown the baby but just enough to supply him with the nourishment he needed.

Caleb touched the top of the crying baby's head. “What do you think? Will it work?”

Julianne gave Jonathan the bottle. He began feeding greedily. A small trickle of milk formed at the corner of his little lips.

“Oh, Caleb, this is so much better than the old nipple.” Her eyes met his, and she smiled.

A soft grin touched Caleb's firm lips. Julianne focused on his mouth. They were only inches apart, and she leaned toward him.

Their lips met. He felt solid and wonderful. Her heart flipped, and she felt a small piece of it warm towards her new husband.

Julianne pulled away and ducked her head. She carried Jonathan to the table and sat down.

“Thank you for the nipple.”

Caleb watched color flood her neck and face. Her voice sounded breathless and appealing. She must have felt the thrill racing through her veins just as he had when their lips touched.

His gaze moved over his small family. Jonathan and Julianne looked like mother and son. She caressed his little head as he drank deeply from the bottle.

A few minutes later, Jonathan protested, needing to burp. He tossed his head back and gave out a loud cry.

Julianne set the half-empty bottle on the table and spoke softly to the baby. “You need to burp, Jonathan. As soon as you do, you'll get to finish your dinner.”

“He's a brawny little fellow, isn't he?” Caleb rested one booted foot upon the chair beside her and the baby.

A loud belch filled the room. Jonathan flung his arms out and gave a big wail.

Julianne settled him back into the crook of her arm and returned the bottle to his mouth. “Yes, he is.”

Caleb studied them for a few more moments. “When you finish up here, do you want to go down to the stream and wash the clothes?”

“That would be nice. The house is still too hot to start cooking.” She rocked from side to side as she fed the baby.

Her gaze met his. Once more, Caleb saw fear in her eyes and wondered what scared her. Was it him? Was he standing too close? Caleb dropped his foot from the chair and stepped back.

Julianne burped the baby again. “I'll be ready in just a moment,” she offered, tucking Jonathan into the folds of the sheet.

Caleb headed toward the door. “Good, I'll check on the horse and cow before we take off.” He made his way out the door and headed to the barn.

He worried that she still feared him. What could he do to make her feel safe? Caleb pondered the question as he thrust the pitchfork into the hay and tossed it to the livestock.

A scream filled the hot air. He jerked his head up at the sound.

Julianne.

Panic clawed at his throat, and he whirled to run to the house. Still holding the pitchfork, Caleb raced out of the barn. His heart seemed to leap from his chest in sheer terror. Never had he heard such raw fear rip from a woman's throat.

Chapter 9

J
ulianne clutched the baby to her. The rattling continued in the corner.

The snake's beady eyes stared at her, and its forked tongue flickered in and out of its mouth. Its body coiled on the floor as the snake raised its head. The rattles sang in the hot, still air.

She pressed the baby tighter to her chest And backed into a kitchen chair. Roaring started in her ears and blackness threatened to overtake her. She fought the weakness of her knees. She couldn't faint. She had to protect Jonathan.

The snake raised its head farther off the floor. It opened its mouth, and two sharp white fangs threatened her.

“Caleb!” She screamed his name. Her throat felt raw from the force of her screams.

The door slammed against the wall with a crash that shook the cabin. She jumped in alarm. Caleb was there. She saw the pitchfork in his hand.

Julianne's mouth went dry, and her head began to swim. Then a quick and disturbing thought shook her to the core. What if the snake bit Caleb? The thought tore at her insides. Her heart contracted.

The snake's coils slithered around on the floor. Its tail whirred a warning, and its head came up to strike. Only this time, Caleb was its target.

Julianne jerked the tied corners of the sheet that held Jonathan from around her neck. She quickly laid the screaming baby on the kitchen table and turned to see what Caleb and the snake were doing.

The snake's head waved in the air.

“Don't move.” Caleb instructed.

Movement had caused the snake to turn on Caleb and movement would distract it from Caleb, too. Julianne prayed she was right. She grabbed the chair behind her and shoved it across the floor toward the snake.

The snake turned and struck at the chair.

Caleb drove the pitchfork through the creature's head.

Julianne gasped.

The snake's body twitched on the kitchen floor. Julianne felt Caleb's gaze skim over her.

“Are you and Jonathan okay?”

Suddenly no sound would come from her throat. She nodded.

Tears tumbled down her face. She ran to Caleb and wrapped her arms around his waist.

“There, there.” He enveloped her in his arms and rubbed her back. “You're safe now. I won't let anything hurt you, Julianne.”

She sobbed into his chest and held on to him. Safety. That's what she craved. And with Caleb's strong arms around her, Julianne felt more secure than she'd ever felt in her life.

Her tears were ruining his shirt, but she couldn't stop their flow. She tightened her grip around him. If only she could stay here forever. If only all her fears could be dispensed with as easily as the snake he'd just killed.

Jonathan's protests at being left alone intensified. Julianne sighed. She had to care for the baby, but oh, how she longed to stay right where she was.

She moved to pull from his arms. “The baby needs me,” she offered, when he didn't release her.

“The baby is safe.” He paused then added, “I need you, too.”

She felt him rest his chin on her head. A deep sigh eased from his lungs. Had he held his breath the whole time he faced down the snake? Julianne felt sure he
had.

His body trembled around her. Julianne inched her hands up his back and rubbed his shoulders, and for the first time, they took comfort from each other.

Jonathan seemed to realize the danger was over and quieted. He'd cried so hard he had the snubs.

Julianne relaxed in the safety and warmth of Caleb's arms. She replayed the last few minutes through her mind and shuddered. What if Caleb hadn't been home? Or God forbid, if the snake had bitten him, what would she have done without him?

He slowly released her. “I'll get the snake out of here, and then we'll head to the stream. I could use the fresh air.”

She watched him move to the snake and pull the pitchfork out of its head. Nausea rose in her throat. Julianne forced herself to really look at the snake now that it no longer moved.

From the tip of its nose to its tail it was almost four feet long Julianne guessed. It was tan with dark brown zigzags marking its length. The head was a diamond shape, and her stomach turned at the memory of the evil in its yellow eyes.

Julianne stored the information away for future use. Caleb carried the snake outside. She hurried to the table. It was her job to protect the baby, and for the second time in two days she'd almost let him come to harm. She silently prayed and asked the Lord to help her be a better mother to her adopted son.

Her gaze moved to the basket that the clothes and snake had been in. She slipped the sheet containing Jonathan back over her head and took a deep breath. Still, her feet refused to move toward the discarded items.

Caleb stood in the doorway. “Let me get that for you.”

She watched him flip over the basket and pick up each individual piece of clothing and place it inside.

“I don't think there are any more snakes.” He lifted the basket and turned toward her.

Julianne stared at him. Caleb Hanson, her husband, had saved her from the snake. He hadn't been worried about his own safety.

Wonder filled her. He had put her needs above his. No man had ever done that for her. Her insides quivered with the knowledge that he cared for her.

“Ready?”

She saw the concern still expressed in his face. What a ninny she must look like standing here staring at him as if he'd sprouted two horns. Julianne picked up the bag she had prepared earlier for Jonathan and agreed. “Ready.”

Caleb led the way down to the stream, his footsteps sure and strong.

With Caleb to protect her, she could enjoy the beauty around her. Little yellow birds sang overhead in the tree branches, and insects fluttered from flower to flower. Julianne took her time and admired the beautiful surroundings.

In her earlier trip, she had raced through, seeing all kinds of dangerous animals and missing the pink flowers and yellow birds. She sighed and inhaled the sweet fragrance of the flowers. Caleb set the basket beside the stream and sorted the clothes. She watched him sink to the bank and begin washing one of her dresses. Julianne hurried and knelt by his side.

“I'll do this.” She removed the blue calico from his hands.

She dunked the material into the water expecting Caleb to walk off and occupy his time elsewhere. He didn't move and a splashing sound met her ears just before water droplets landed on her arms. This time he vigorously washed one of his shirts. She sat back on her heels.

“Caleb, you don't have to help me.”

He continued to scrub and Julianne frowned. Men didn't scrub clothes. So what was he doing?

Caleb rinsed the soap out of the red shirt and stood to hang it on a nearby bush. Julianne admired his easy movements as he knelt beside her again. Did he think that because she had been afraid of the snake that she couldn't do the wash?

“Really, Caleb,” she huffed. “I am capable of doing the laundry.” She bent back to the task of rubbing the soil from the dress.

She heard, more than saw, him sit back. “Julianne.” His voice held steel even though he called her name softly.

“What?” Julianne didn't look up.

He pulled on the sheet that held Jonathan to her. “Julianne, look at me.”

She did as he said with reluctance. “What, Caleb? I don't have time for games. I have to finish the wash, cook two meals and get a bath today.” Julianne dared him to deny what she said.

A warm smile caught her off guard. “I know you have to do those things, and I'm going to help you.” He reached up and tucked a wayward curl behind her ear.

“Why? Don't you have something else to do?” She hated the way her voice came out in a whisper. Caleb would think she was weak and unable to take care of the chores.

Laughter filled the air around them. “Nope, I'm here to protect my family and to be a helpmeet to my beautiful wife.”

Julianne stared at him. He thought she was beautiful? The man had to be half blind. Her hair fell from the neat bun she'd created this morning, she knew her skin was freckled from being out in the sun without a bonnet, and her dress was wet and muddy at the knees. And besides, wasn't it her job to be the helpmeet to him? He puzzled her, this man she'd married. But he also drew her in ways she couldn't deny. Julianne ducked her head, sure he was teasing her.

The more she was around Caleb the more Julianne knew she was falling in love with this gentle man who was her husband. Her husband.

He startled Julianne by cupping her lowered chin in his strong, callused hand and gently raising her head. Her confused gaze met his warm eyes. She could hardly believe that was truly attraction she saw, and heard in his voice, as he announced, “Julianne, God brought us together to help each other. I'm glad He did.”

Julianne was glad, too. Caleb began to talk. As they scrubbed clothes together by the water's edge he told her of his dreams of owning an apple orchard.

“But where would you put an apple orchard? The only cleared space is around the cabin and the garden.”

“I'll keep cutting timber as I get time. I want to build more onto the house behind the rooms we have now. That's why I left the roof so high on the back. It will take me several years to clear the acreage but I'm young and strong, and by the time I get the trees removed I'll have the money to buy the seedlings.”