Читать книгу The Bachelor's Homecoming - Karen Kirst - Страница 12

Chapter Four

Jane’s heart and mind were at war. Her heart insisted she stay and attempt to draw him out. Learn what had happened in Kansas. Her oh-so-practical mind, on the other hand, was insisting she leave.

“I’ll go and finish those dishes.”

By now, he’d uncovered the entire porch railing. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll get to them later.”

“I like to finish what I start.” That was the only reason she wasn’t climbing in her wagon right this minute. “I have extra time on my hands since the café is closed on Sundays.”

“That’s kind of you, Jane.” He dropped the last bunch onto the pile. “Least I can do is pitch in.”

Not giving her a chance to decline his offer, he took her elbow and assisted her through the thick vegetation. She was very conscious of the strength of his fingers through the gloves, his gentle hold. He didn’t release her until they’d reached the stream.

Jane remained close to the tree trunk, letting it support her weight. Removing his gloves, he crouched at the water’s edge, dipped his hat’s crown below the surface and tipped the entirety over his head. He laughed when he caught her staring. “Feels amazing.” Finger combing the excess water from the wet strands, he extended the hat with a grin. “Want a turn?”

“No, thank you.”

Trailing his right hand through the water, he approached and flung tiny droplets on her exposed neck. “You sure? Won’t hurt to unwind every now and then.”

Jane shook her head, even though the cool moisture did feel wonderful. Somehow, she’d forgotten Tom’s playful side. All this time she’d remembered him as he’d been after Megan’s refusal. Somber. Disappointed. A man whose life plans had been thwarted.

“Why haven’t you asked about Megan?” she blurted, cheeks burning when his eyebrows hit his hairline.

“No particular reason. I’ve had a lot on my mind, what with Clara and the farm. Yesterday, my mind was too full of your predicament to give anything else much thought.”

Right. Her spectacular nonwedding.

“So?” he prompted. “How is she?”

“Happy. Not only are she and Lucian the guardians of two adolescent siblings, but they recently adopted a three-year-old girl from New Orleans.”

“She always talked about having a large family. I’m happy for her.”

Jane studied him closely. He struck her as genuine, his interest in her sister casual. There was nothing to indicate he yet nursed a broken heart.

Propping a hand on the branch above her head, he leaned in, bringing a whiff of his distinctive woodsy scent. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Like what?”

“Not sure exactly. Do you suspect I came home with the intention of making things difficult for your sister?”

Jane gasped. “Of course not.”

“I respected Megan’s decision. I didn’t like it, but I learned to accept it.”

Mouth dry, heart beating frantically at his proximity, Jane desperately wanted to ask if he still loved her. Her lips refused to form the words.

His brow creased, and he pushed off the branch to pace. “If you think me capable of such behavior, other people might, too. Maybe even Megan herself.” He slapped his hat against his thigh. “I have to see her. Make sure she understands I harbor no ill will. No grand illusions about us.”

Jane stepped into his path, forcing him to stop. “I don’t think that. I know you’d never do such a thing. Megan knows it, too.”

He closed his hands over hers. “Even so, it would be best if she and I had our first encounter in private. Will you go with me? Having you there would put her at ease.”

Tom had no idea what he was asking. No idea how difficult it would be for her to witness their reunion. What excuse, then, could she possibly give?

Caught in his imploring gaze, his touch both wonderful and torturous, she pulled free. Sidestepping him, she sank onto the bank, blindly seizing the nearest dish and soap sliver. She should’ve stayed away. Although it wasn’t in her nature to refuse her ma anything, she should’ve invented a chore that needed immediate attention.

He followed and, taking up the spot beside her, began to wash without a word. She sensed his quiet perusal.

“When would you like to visit her?” she said at last.

“In a few days, once I’ve had a chance to clean out the cabin and round up a milk cow and several hens. But, Jane, I get the feeling you’d rather not go. Has something happened? Have you two had a falling-out?”

“Nothing like that.”

She recalled the day all those years ago when she’d confessed her feelings to Megan. Her sensitive sister had been heartbroken. Megan had known there was no hope Tom would ever love Jane. Not that she would ever voice such a hurtful truth, of course. She hadn’t had to. The evidence was in the way she’d gently tried to reason with Jane, reminding her of their age difference. Back then, seven years had seemed an impossible chasm.

All these years later, he in his late twenties and she of marriageable age, she didn’t register the gap any longer. But while the age factor wasn’t an issue, something Megan never would’ve admitted made a future between them impossible—Jane didn’t possess the qualities Tom desired in a wife. She couldn’t measure up to Megan.

“You and Lucian get along, right? If he isn’t treating you well, I’ll—”

“No.” Surprised by the promise of retribution in his voice, Jane jerked her head up. “Lucian is a wonderful man. He’s good to my sister. To all of us.”

The tension in his shoulders eased somewhat, and he returned his attention to his task.

Studying his profile, she placed the clean dish on the quilt behind her. “We can visit her any day this week. I’m free in the mornings.”

“That’s right. You bake in the afternoons.” Reaching across her, he snagged an extra washcloth for drying. “The townspeople must love that. I often dreamed about your ribbon fruitcake.”

Their desserts were indeed popular with the locals. She used to take such joy from making Tom his favorite treat. That particular item had been off the menu for quite some time. Too many memories.

“Any chance I might get to purchase a slice soon?”

“Right now, we’re taking advantage of the fresh berries for pies and strudels. Perhaps in the fall.”

“I’ll have to be patient, then.” He moved into her space. “Hold still. You have a stray eyelash.”

His fingertips lightly stroked the tender skin beneath her eye. He was close enough that she could feel the cool fan of his breath across her nose. Her pulse rate tripled, and her head felt too light. What Jane wanted was to erase the scant inches separating them, wanted his arms around her, his chest beneath her cheek.

It wasn’t fair that she should possess these feelings for him, suffer these reactions when he wasn’t the least bit affected. She was nothing but a friend to him. Worse, actually. She was the little sister of the woman he’d wanted for his wife.

“There,” he murmured huskily. “I think I got it.”

Tom pulled away slightly, confusion tugging his brows together as his gaze roamed her face as if seeing her for the very first time. As if she were a stranger to him. His eyes flared with surprise just before he turned away and resumed washing without a word.

The creak of wagon wheels had them both twisting to see the new arrival.

“Josh.” Jane wasn’t surprised to see her cousin. He and Tom had been close friends since childhood.

A second wagon pulled onto the lane behind it, driven by Josh’s younger brother, Nathan. The blond hair glinting in the light belonged to his pretty spitfire of a wife, Sophie.

“Looks like an official O’Malley family welcome.” He flashed her a quick smile that struck her as a bit strained. Helping her up, he quickly stepped away.

“Nathan’s brought you a milk cow.”

“Yes, I see.”

Jane wondered at his distant manner. Was he worried her family would hold a grudge because of his lack of correspondence? Was it her? Hanging back while he strode ahead, she surreptitiously sniffed at her blouse, relieved when the lilac-infused washing soap was the only scent she detected. It was a rather humid day, after all, and he’d been very close.

If it wasn’t an offending odor, was it something she’d said?

Oh, no. She stopped in her tracks. Had he glimpsed the truth in her eyes? The secret she worked so hard to keep hidden?

* * *

Tom hoped the astonishment ricocheting through his system wasn’t written across his face for all to see. He couldn’t have known a simple eyelash would incite this peculiar reaction to Jane. Jane, of all people. His best friend’s younger cousin. Megan’s baby sister.

But, oh, her skin had been incredibly soft. Her eyes luminous, the deep, true green of mysterious forests, drawing him in, making him forget who and what they were.

He’d always fancied himself as a stand-in big brother. Someone to tease her out of her introverted shell. Protect her from guys with questionable intentions. He’d always seen her as young and innocent. Vulnerable. The little sister he’d never had.

Seeing her as an alluring, intriguing young woman wasn’t natural.

“Tom Leighton.” His old friend pulled him into a back-slapping hug. Josh hadn’t aged in the years he’d been gone; he still wore his wheat-colored hair short and had a neat goatee. “Hard to believe you’re here. I’ve missed you, brother.”

“I should’ve written.” Beyond Josh’s wagon, the middle O’Malley son was swinging his wife to the ground. He’d been surprised to hear Nathan had married the O’Malleys’ neighbor, tomboy Sophie Tanner. She certainly didn’t look like a tomboy anymore. “Only now that I’m here do I realize what a mistake not writing was.”

Josh’s hand remained on his shoulder. “If I hadn’t known where you were going or why, I would’ve been tempted to come searching for you.”

Jane gasped. Pivoting, Tom saw the tremor in her hand as she lifted it to her throat. Anguish pinched her features.

“You knew where he was all this time and didn’t tell me?” Her gaze hit upon Tom’s and skittered away. “N-not just me. The entire family has been worried.”

Josh shifted his stance. “I’m sorry, Jane.”

“It’s not his fault,” Tom said. “I discussed my decision to go to Charles’s ranch with Josh. I asked him to keep it quiet.” Not thinking straight after Megan’s refusal—he’d been one big mass of hurt and disappointment—he hadn’t stopped to evaluate the rightness or wrongness of his actions. “I’m the one to blame.”

He resisted the urge to touch her, something that up until a few minutes ago had been as instinctive as breathing.

Nathan and Sophie approached. Tom had no choice but to greet them both, noting Jane’s swift departure out of the corner of his eye. Josh trailed her to the cabin, delaying her at the steps. She was upset and, as in the past, all Tom wanted was to hold her until she wasn’t anymore.

It struck him again that things had changed. She had changed. And maybe so had he.

Nathan lifted the Jersey cow’s lead rope. “We heard your niece is with you. Thought a milk cow might come in handy. This here’s one of our best producers.” He rubbed between her ears. “Her name’s Belle.”

“Let me get my wallet and settle up with you.”

“No need. Consider her a welcome-home present.”

He hadn’t forgotten the O’Malleys’ generosity or their stubborn natures. Arguing the point was useless. “I appreciate it, Nate. Thank you.”

“I’ll get her settled in the barn.”

Tom sighed. He hadn’t cleared out any of the outbuildings yet. Making Clara feel comfortable in her new home had been his top priority, and he hadn’t made much progress on that front. “You won’t reach it without a machete.”

“So lend me one.” He shrugged.

“Wouldn’t you rather pass a pleasant Sunday afternoon with your wife?”

Arm linked with Nathan’s, Sophie smiled. “He’s promised to take me fishing later. For now, I’m going to help Jane. Good to have you home, Tom.” She bussed her husband on the cheek before slipping away.

Silver eyes sparkling with good humor, the other man drawled, “Don’t be stubborn, Leighton. We’re family, got it? And family helps each other out. Now, point me to the tools.”

Tom complied. He expected Jane to leave right away. Instead, she and Sophie carted buckets of water to the porch and began scrubbing the windowpanes, conversing in low voices so as not to disturb the still-sleeping Clara. She did avoid looking at him, however. Having kindhearted Jane upset with him was not a pleasant experience.

With company around, he’d have to wait to try and smooth things over.

While he, Josh and Nathan attacked the overgrown vegetation around the barn entrance, more O’Malleys arrived—the men’s parents, Sam and Mary, who were like a beloved aunt and uncle to Tom, and the youngest son, Caleb, who brought his wife, young sister-in-law and adorable eighteen-month-old son, Noah. Everyone pitched in. And there, in the midst of the sweaty, backbreaking work, surrounded by these people he considered family, he acknowledged how much he’d missed them all. Missed this town.

Despite the grief and turmoil that had spurred him home, he was glad to be back.

Leaning his scythe against the barn wall’s weathered boards, Josh motioned for Tom to follow him to the stream. Resting a knee on the grassy bank, Josh submerged his handkerchief and mopped his face and neck.

“How did Jane seem to you yesterday?” Josh said.

Scooping up water with his hat as he’d done earlier, Tom reveled in the cold shock of it as it slid down his head and beneath his shirt collar.

“Distressed.”

He wouldn’t soon forget that encounter. Her breathtaking beauty. The fact she’d come close to fainting in his arms.

Josh tunneled his fingers through his hair, a disgusted noise gusting out. “The ceremony was a disaster of epic proportions. I’m not surprised she took off.”

“Who’s the lout she was supposed to marry?” Anger at an unknown stranger bloomed inside. Not many men were worthy of Jane. She deserved someone truly special, someone who’d recognize her true worth and cherish her gentle spirit. Not someone who lied to her, humiliated her in front of the entire town.

“Newcomer named Roy Crowley.” He stood.

“You allowed her to get engaged to a man like that?”

“She didn’t ask my permission. Besides, he struck me as a solid, responsible man. Treated her well. Everyone approved of the union.”

Her misery fresh in his mind, Tom clenched his fists. “She must be devastated.”

“Jane’s not one to confide in me, but I got the sense she wasn’t as invested as she ought to be.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, she didn’t have the look of a young woman in love.”

Turning so that he had a clear view of the cabin, Tom crossed his arms and sagged against the tree base. She wasn’t hard to spot, what with that shining red hair and cool mint-green blouse. At the moment, she and Sophie were emptying the bed mattresses of the old and no doubt moldy corn husks.

Was Josh’s assumption true? Tom hoped so. If she didn’t love the guy, she wasn’t suffering more than bruised pride. Marrying for convenience’s sake was a practical solution if one was facing financial difficulties or needed a spouse to help with farm chores. But Jane and her family weren’t struggling with either. Why would she agree to such a union?