When Miss Hazel came to get her for supper, Jess pushed her hair out of her face, putting it back into the bun she usually wore. It had fallen out during her nap, and she didn’t want to look unkempt for a meal she had with Theodore and his friends. She would do her best to act happy, though she was certain they’d all be able to see that her heart was breaking by looking into her eyes. It was the first time in her life that she wished she wore spectacles. They would at least give her something to hide behind.

She walked out to greet the Mounties, apologizing for her exhaustion. “I don’t usually sleep during the day,” she said with a laugh. It sounded forced to her, but no one said anything.

She walked to the work table to help Miss Hazel, but realized all the work was done. The Mounties were all seated at the table with their suppers in front of them. She sat in the same spot where she’d eaten all week, right next to Theodore. “Thank you for cooking, Miss Hazel.”

Theodore tried not to look at Jess, but he planned to get her alone for a good long talk after supper. They would never work anything out if they didn’t eat.

While they ate, Elijah regaled them with an amusing tale of a homesteader a few miles south of town he’d run into that day. Apparently, the man didn’t think that Canada allowed him to get enough sunshine, so he’d taken to soaking up the sun’s rays by working without a stitch of clothing on that day.

Jess bit her lip to avoid laughing. “He hasn’t done this before?” Surely someone who was that elemental would feel the need to work naked every day.

Elijah shook his head. “Not that I’ve seen, but he’s new here. I don’t think he’s been in British Columbia for more than a month or two. He told me that any day it doesn’t rain, he’s going to work with no clothes on, because he needs the extra sunshine in a world where the angels are always weeping on him.”

“What did you say?” Kendall asked. The young man obviously had never run into that type of situation before.

“I asked him to be mindful that ladies were in the area, by which I meant a few miles away, and they didn’t need to be blinded by his startlingly white derriere. He promised to wear clothes for the rest of the day.” Elijah shook his head, obviously enjoying the telling of the story.

Theodore couldn’t help but laugh. “But what about tomorrow?”

“He said tomorrow’s problems would solve themselves.” Elijah took another bite of his pot pie. “When I left, he was headed inside to get some pants on. I told him no one’s going to mind if he works with no shirt on. But he had to cover himself otherwise.”

Joel shook his head. “You’d think common decency would tell the man that it’s not right to work outdoors with no clothes on!”

“Oh, he was wearing his socks and shoes. He didn’t want to hurt his feet.” Elijah shook his head.

“Oh, I can understand that. He could have stepped on a rock or something.” Jess bit her lip, trying to control her mirth.

Miss Hazel rolled her eyes. “He’s not going to be happy if he gets a sunburn where the sun isn’t supposed to shine now, is he?”

Jess sipped her water, determined not to discuss or even think about the naked farmer again. “You all must have a lot of fun adventures while you’re working. What’s the craziest thing you’ve encountered so far, Kendall?”

Jess didn’t have to worry about talking again as all of the Mounties took turns talking about amusing things they’d seen and done in their positions.

After supper, she helped Miss Hazel clear the table. “You should go spend some time with your son,” Jess said when the older woman moved to help her with the dishes. “Tomorrow’s our last day here, and I’m certain you’ll miss him.” She was just as certain she didn’t want to spend time talking to him. If she was doing the dishes, she could easily avoid the man.

Miss Hazel seemed torn for a moment, but then she nodded. “I’ll go talk to him.”

An hour later, Miss Hazel was back in the cabin, looking tired. “Teddy went off to bed. I haven’t seen him look that sad since his father died.”

Jess frowned. She was at the table sewing one last button on a shirt for Theodore and mentally planning out what she’d cook the next day. “What meals do you think I should cook tomorrow, Miss Hazel? We want them to have good food for as long as possible.”

“I don’t think he wants you to go, Jess.” Miss Hazel got right to the heart of the conversation she needed to have with Jess. She’d never been one to pussyfoot around a subject.

“Whether he wants me to or not, he’s allowing me to go. He’s practically pushing me out the door.” Jess jabbed the cloth with her needle much harder than necessary.

Miss Hazel sat down at the table with Jess. “I think you should tell him you want to stay. He thinks he’s being noble by not asking you to give up your life and live out here with him.”

Jess shrugged. “I’ve bared my soul to him. He knows how I feel, and he’s letting me go. What else can I say to him?” It wasn’t that she didn’t want to talk to him. She really did feel everything that could possibly sway him had already been said.

“Have you tried, ‘Teddy, I love you, and I want to stay here. It doesn’t matter there’s no electricity or other women. All I need is you.’ I think that would work!”

“There’s no point. It’s not the lady’s job to say those things anyway. It’s the man’s.” Jess finished sewing on the button and got to her feet. “Goodnight, Miss Hazel.” She walked back to the room she was sharing with the older lady and changed into her nightgown, putting her thick brown hair into a braid that cascaded down her back.

Before Miss Hazel was in the room, Jess had her eyes closed and was feigning sleep.

* * *

Theodore was the first of the Mounties at breakfast the following morning. He felt uncomfortable being alone with Jess, because he was hurt that she didn’t want to stay, and he could see she was angry with him about it, which made no sense at all. What did she have to be angry with him about? She was the one who was rejecting him this time!

He took advantage of the moment, walking over to her as she slid pancakes onto a plate. “Why are you so angry with me?”

Jess turned to him for a moment, absolutely dumbfounded. “Are you really asking me that?” As much as she loved him, sometimes the man seemed incredibly simple.

He nodded. “I am. I don’t understand. You’re leaving and that’s not breaking just one heart but two. My heart is hurting just as much as yours is.”

She blinked at him in disbelief. “I don’t even know what to say to you any longer, Teddy Hughes! You’re making my head hurt.” She thrust the plate with pancakes and bacon at him. “Better hurry and eat it before Nolan gets here.”

“Did I hear my name?” asked a voice from across the room. Nolan stopped and sniffed the air. “Pancakes. My favorite.” He walked over to Jess. “You know, if Theodore doesn’t want you, you could marry me. I’m not in love with you or anything, but if you kept cooking for me, it sure wouldn’t take long.”

Jess smiled up at Nolan, shaking her head. “I can’t see myself marrying a man just because he might fall in love with me for my cooking one day.”

Nolan sighed, taking a plate of pancakes and bacon from her. “It was worth a shot.” He studied the pancakes for a moment, set his plate on the work table, and swept Jess into an embrace, kissing her cheek. “You put raspberries in my pancakes. I think I am in love with you.”

Jess laughed, pushing Nolan away. “Go eat, you bottomless pit of a man!”

Theodore wanted to scream in pain when he saw his friend hugging Jess, but he had no right to say a word. She wasn’t his girl or even contemplating becoming his girl. Something had changed between them after she’d realized how remote the area was on Sunday, and he couldn’t change his assignment. He would have to forget about her, which would be a lot easier once he was no longer looking at her for three meals per day.

After breakfast, Theodore took the lunch Jess handed him, knowing she wouldn’t be eating with him. Again. Why she was being so contrary, he had no idea. He’d done what his mother had suggested and tried to talk to her. When she’d acted like he should understand her problem without ever telling him what that problem was, it had been the last straw for him.

He walked to the office, his head hanging. She was leaving tomorrow, and she was leaving angry with him. How on earth was he supposed to fight that?

When he got to the office he was surprised to see his four friends standing there, waiting for him. “You’re a fool,” Joel said. “She loves you. She wants to stay. All you have to do is ask her!” He grabbed his lunch and left the office, his boots loud in the quiet office.

Kendall took his turn next. “Please ask her to stay. She makes you happy. Well, she makes all of us happy, but the rest of us aren’t in love with her. And she doesn’t love anyone but you. She must be blind.” Then he was gone as well.

Theodore took his seat, rubbing his hands over his face. He was surprised at the anger in Kendall’s words. The younger man had always seemed to respect him. “I suppose you two are going to tell me the same thing?” he asked Elijah and Nolan.

“Nope,” Nolan answered. “I’m telling you now that if you don’t ask that woman to stay, you’ll be miserable for the rest of your life. And so will my stomach! She cooks extra for me! She’s absolutely the most wonderful thing that has ever stepped foot in Squirrel Ridge Station. Don’t let her go!”

Theodore sighed, his eyes going to Elijah. “And you? What are you going to say?”

“She’s smart. She’s funny. She’s feisty. She’s everything a man needs in a woman. And she’s so beautiful. How are you not on your knees right this second begging her to make you the happiest man alive? I promise you, if she goes, none of us are going to be fit to live with.” Elijah plopped his hat on his head and left the building, obviously too upset to say more.

Theodore rubbed his temples. They were all right. Every one of them. But how was he supposed to convince her to stay when she’d already made up her mind to go home?

* * *

Jess had sweat popping out on her brow as she pulled a berry pie from the oven. “That smells so good,” Miss Hazel said as she walked into the room. “Is that for supper tonight or is that for future suppers we won’t be here to share?”

“Oh, future suppers. I don’t want any more happy memories that have Theodore involved, so I’m going to bake a coconut cake for dessert tonight.”

“How will you not have a happy memory with coconut cake?” Miss Hazel asked, obviously confused.

“I hate coconut,” Jess said simply.

“So does Theodore, now that I think about it,” Miss Hazel said.

“Oh, good. That’s even better.”

Miss Hazel couldn’t help but laugh. “I shouldn’t be happy that you’re deliberately making something that my son hates, but I would do the same. I remember hoping my husband would choke on an apple pie once.”

Jess looked at Miss Hazel with surprise. “Why?”

“You know, I can’t even remember now. He’d done some little thing that annoyed me, and I was angry with him. After he died, I quit remembering the little annoyances and only remembered how good he was to me. I wish I’d done that sooner. I’ll always regret every minute I had with my husband when I was angry with him.”

“I should talk to Teddy, shouldn’t I?” Jess dreaded it. She’d been very angry with him, and she didn’t want to have to apologize. But she knew it was the right thing to do.

“I’ve thought you should for days now. You know that.”

“Maybe after I finish the baking, I’ll head over to the Mountie office.”

Miss Hazel smiled, clapping her hands. “I can’t believe you finally agreed!”

* * *

Theodore spent the morning trying to do the paperwork in front of him, but his mind wouldn’t leave Jess. Just before lunch time, he scrawled out a note for his Mountie buddies and left the office. He wasn’t sure which of his other congregations the pastor was visiting this week, but he was going to track him down. He couldn’t very well beg Jess to stay and marry him if he didn’t have a pastor ready to perform the ceremony.

* * *

When Jess got to the Mountie office that afternoon, she was surprised Theodore wasn’t there. In his place was a note that said, “I’ll be back tomorrow.” His signature was scrawled across the bottom.

Jess read the note once more, and then put it back on the desk. She didn’t know who it was meant for, but it obviously wasn’t for her. She’d be gone shortly after he came back from wherever he’d gone.

Dejectedly, she walked back to the cabin. She needed to get her things together and packed to go back to Ottawa anyway.

Just before suppertime, Joel strode into the cabin. “Did Theodore tell you where he was going?” he asked Jess.

She shook her head. “He didn’t say anything to me about it.” And that hurt, more than him simply not asking her to stay. He left without saying goodbye.

Joel sighed. “I don’t know what’s gotten into him lately.”

Miss Hazel looked up from her spot at the table, a book in front of her. “I do. He’s in love, and he has no idea how to behave.”

Jess made a face. “If he was in love, he’d have told me by now. I’ve told him I love him.” Truly there wasn’t a more contrary man in all of Canada.

Joel studied Jess for a minute. “Would you marry him if he asked?”

“You don’t know the answer to that question? Of course I’d marry him. I brought a wedding dress with me!” Jess shrugged. “It really doesn’t matter at this point, though, does it?” She would be alone for the rest of her life, always dreaming about Theodore. He was truly the only man she’d ever love.

“I guess not.” The other three Mounties trickled in, and they all sat down to eat. After supper, Kendall smiled. “I’m going to go get my guitar. We’re going to give you a proper send off, Jess. We’ll all have a singalong. Don’t worry, no dancing.”

Jess was reluctant to agree, but if Teddy wouldn’t be there, what difference did it make? She had to learn to have fun without him.

It was late when she finally climbed under the covers that night. The night had been filled with song and laughter. Miss Hazel lay in the bed beside her. “Do you think I’ll ever be able to move on?” Jess asked softly.

“I never could. I don’t exactly have suitors beating down my door at my age, but I wouldn’t have accepted a beau. Teddy’s father was the only man I’ve ever loved. I can’t imagine kissing another, let alone being married to someone else.”

“You were supposed to encourage me! Tell me that I will find someone else to love.” More than anything, Jess needed someone to tell her she wouldn’t always be alone, because at the moment, that’s where she felt like she was headed.

Miss Hazel sighed heavily. “I won’t lie to you Jess. I’ve seen you with Teddy. You two are…well, I believe he’s the love of your life and you’re the love of his. Maybe he’ll come to his senses and ride into Ottawa on his big horse, his scarlet uniform looking majestic as he rides. He’ll ride right up to you on the street, pull you onto his horse, and insist you ride off into the sunset with him.”

Jess laughed softly. “Miss Hazel? You are the most romantic woman I’ve ever met. You need to find something to do that will let you show that side of yourself.”

“Maybe I will.”

* * *

There were only four Mounties for breakfast on Thursday morning, and Jess had cooked for six. That was good, because Nolan declared himself “more peckish than usual” and made short work of the extra food.

Jess felt her heart sink even more when she realized Theodore wasn’t even going to be there for goodbyes. It was strange that he wouldn’t even say goodbye to his own mother, but what could she say? Everyone had been commenting on how strangely he was behaving of late.

After breakfast, she cleaned up the breakfast dishes and swept the floor. She wanted to make sure everything was in place when they left, because she wasn’t about to make his life any harder than it already was. In a few days, all signs of her and his mother being there would be gone.

Just before lunch time, she decided to go pick a few more berries and bake some muffins before the train arrived. One last act of love waiting for him when he got home.

She carried one pail with her as she walked out to the berry patch that was almost completely devoid of berries now. Every day she’d picked a few more for jam, pies, or muffins. She’d never seen a man who loved muffins quite the way Teddy did.

She picked a bucketful, and hurried back to the cabin. Her train left at two, and it was already after noon. She wanted him to come home to fresh-baked muffins filling the air with their fragrance.

Miss Hazel watched her as she rushed to bake the muffins, shaking her head. “You can’t not do kind things for my boy, even when you’re angry with him. Oh, Jess, I wish I could call you daughter!”

“I wish you could too, Miss Hazel, but that’s not the way things are turning out. No matter. I’ll move on with my life, and he’ll move on with his. Someday he’ll find a woman who he wants to marry. It just won’t be me.”