Chapter Four
The low rumble of male voices echoed through the main hallway. She could hear Aaron and she was sure that was Heath’s deep timbre as they greeted one another.
Jenny whirled on Janelle, the paring knife in her hand forgotten. “You said he wasn’t coming.” Her voice turned shrill as she failed to suppress her alarm.
Janelle looked up in surprise. “Who? Heath? No, it was Luke who couldn’t make it. Is that a problem? I thought you said you were over Heath.”
Flustered, she went back to chopping carrots for the salad. “Of course, it’s not a problem. I was surprised is all.”
What a ninny she was. She might as well come right out and tell Janelle that Heath broke her heart, that he had crushed it so completely she avoided him at all costs. It was too painful, but as badly as her luck was running lately, she had seen him repeatedly since the dance, seemingly around every corner or in every store when she’d come to town. To pile on the agony, more often than not he’d been with the widow Jeffers, who gave a noteworthy impression of being permanently plastered to his side.
“Jenny, what aren’t you telling me? I seriously thought you’d moved on with Les Peterson.”
“No. I can’t bear the man. He tormented me as a child and I can’t seem to forgive or forget.”
“What did he do?”
She turned, pointing with her knife. “Do you know how difficult it is to get ink out of your hair?”
“He dipped your braids in the inkwell? Huh.” She paused for a moment before smiling softly, almost wistfully. “I thought that only happened to Laura on Little House.”
“Who?”
She chuckled. “No one you would know. About Les Peterson, surely he’s outgrown boyish pranks by now.”
“Are they engaged?” Jenny asked as she turned back to the cutting board and resumed her vigorous chopping, taking out her frustration on an innocent tomato.
Janelle hesitated, peering up from the large bowl where her hands had been busily mixing ground beef, eggs, oatmeal, and spices into something she called meatloaf. The abrupt change in subject apparently threw her off. “What?” she asked blankly.
“Heath and Mrs. Jeffers, are they planning to get married?”
Janelle stared at her. The uncertain look on her face said she was uncomfortable with the topic.
“Sorry,” Jenny muttered as she placed a cucumber on the cutting board and proceeded to lop off the ends in a vigorous downward chop, reminiscent of an executioner from medieval times. She stopped shy of imagining a particular blonde’s head on the block. Feeling Janelle’s concerned gaze, she toned it down a bit finishing by slicing in a more sedate manner. Dumping the diced cucumbers into a bowl, she picked up an onion. “I suppose I shouldn’t pry. It’s really none of my concern.”
“They’re not engaged. I told you how it is with him, honey.”
“Something sure smells good in here, ladies.” The voice booming from the doorway made both women jump. Jenny yelped as the sharp knife slipped and sliced into her finger. It clattered to the counter as she grabbed her wound, hissing as the onion juice burned like fire. She welcomed the sting that excused the real reason for her tears as she blinked up into Heath’s concerned face.
* * *
“Let me see that,” Heath demanded, at her side in an instant. “It’s my fault for startling you as I did.” Luminous green eyes connected with his as he drew her hand away from her lips. The wounded finger left her mouth with a little pop where she’d been sucking on it soothingly. His eyes dropped to her full lips that had formed a pretty pout and a jolt of awareness shot through him.
Mercy, the unholy thoughts that came to mind at the sight of those plump pink lips. A tear rolled down her cheek, edging around the corner of her mouth. It jarred him, reminding him that she was injured. With a mental smack to his head, he summoned his control and moved into action. Heath towed her along to the sink and grabbed the pump handle. Once the water started flowing, he guided her hand under the cool stream.
“Janelle. Have you got bandages for this cut?”
“Let me wash my hands and I’ll fetch them.”
Aaron walked in just then.
“Jenny cut herself. Can you get my emergency kit from the upstairs bathroom?” He turned without a word and was gone, as Janelle moved to the sink. “Grab that clean towel on the sideboard and apply pressure, Heath. I’ve got to get the E. coli off my hands before I take a look.”
“E what?” Jenny asked, sounding a bit dazed.
“Don’t bother. Little sister has a language all her own and sometimes it’s better not to know what she’s talking about.”
Janelle snorted a laugh as she began to soap up her hands. “Cleanliness is next to godliness, as the good book says.”
“No,” Jenny disagreed with a shake of her head. “I don’t think that’s anywhere in the bible, Janelle.”
“Huh, well, my granny used to say it, and I’m sure it goes doubly so in 1878. Don’t you think, Heath?”
“Don’t drag me into the middle of a theological discussion.” He pulled the rag away. Noting that the bleeding had slowed considerably, he examined the cut more closely.
Aaron returned with a large sewing basket and set it on the table while Janelle finished drying her hands. When she opened it, Heath was amazed at the accumulation of medical supplies. Rolled bandages and cotton balls were tucked neatly into sections lined with wax paper. There was a leather tourniquet, and a slew of jars and bottles labeled with medicines such as benzoin, camphor, and menthol. In the lid were pockets with small pouches of her homegrown herbs, a box of matches, needles and thread, and other supplies, all neatly labeled and organized.
He frowned as a thought struck him. “Will she need a stitch, do you think?”
After removing several soft white squares of cloth and one of the dark brown glass bottles, Janelle said, “Come to the table and let’s see the damage.”
Heath guided her over and Jenny held up her hand for Janelle’s close inspection. She observed it closely, then shook her head. “It’s shallow, more like you sheared off the top layer of skin. We’ll clean it up and I’ll give you a salve to help it heal.” She poured camphor onto several of the white linen squares. “This might sting a little.”
Although forewarned, Jenny hissed and jerked her hand away. “It burns.”
“Shh,” Heath soothed. “It will sting, but only for a few seconds, then it will be numb for a bit. It will also kill any germs in the wound. Right, Janelle?”
Janelle glanced at him with a nod. “That’s right.”
He’d had a fascination with her knowledge of medicine ever since he’d seen her treat Aaron after a gunshot wound better than Doc Morgan ever could. Heath noticed her eyes went wide as she looked at Aaron. When she returned her attention to bandaging Jenny’s cut, she wore a broad grin. It was then that Heath realized Jenny was perched on his lap with his arms wound around her waist. How she’d gotten there, he had no idea, but now that she was, he could feel her soft body pressed against his, particularly the soft curves of her bottom atop his thighs. He could also smell her, a mixture of floral scents from her long hair, a touch of vanilla and… onion. He’d be damned, even onion smelled good on the gal.
His eyes tipped up to watch Janelle work. She was avoiding his gaze as a little smirk played upon her lips. He hadn’t known his sister-in-law long, but he knew her well. Ever since she’d married Aaron and found her bliss as she called it, she thought it was her mission in life to see everyone else hitched. A crease gathered between his brows. She knew how he felt about marriage. It was fine for everyone else, but not for him.
He sent his brother a frown, tilting his head toward Janelle in silent communication. He wanted Janelle’s misguided matchmaking nipped in the bud.
“Janelle,” Aaron said, waiting until he had his wife’s full attention before continuing. “Heath is not pleased.”
“Pfft.” The scoffing noise she made was halfway between a snort and a huff. “Heath doesn’t know what’s good for him.”
“Janelle,” Heath warned.
“Heath,” she parroted back.
He looked at his brother again for assistance.
“Janelle.” Aaron’s voice came back firmly.
“Aaron,” Janelle replied, looking down while bandaging Jenny’s finger.
Aaron cleared his throat; when her head came up, he quirked a dark brow. The spitting image of his pa when his ma was doing something he didn’t agree with. Heath was impressed.
“Aaron,” she complained.
“Janelle.” As warnings go, his was unquestionable. He’d had enough.
“All right,” Janelle said with a sigh. “I’ll back off, but I want to go on record that I wasn’t the one who started this round robin roll call.”
Janelle was a delight, but she was a handful. For that, he didn’t envy his brother. She was spirited, which he allowed to an extent, but Aaron had a good command over his girl, reining her in when necessary. Heath regarded Aaron with a small grin curving his lips. Nice job, little brother, he thought with a mental tip of his hat.
“Am I missing something? Or are you all off your nut?”
All eyes switched to Jenny, who sat in wide-eyed consternation, her gaze switching from one to the next, coming full circle back to Janelle.
They all burst into laughter, leaving poor confused Jenny out of the joke. Heath patted her shoulder as Janelle wrapped up her finger.
“All set,” Janelle said as she packed away her bandage supplies. “Keep it clean and dry and it will heal up in no time. I guess that lets you off the hook for dishes tonight, clever girl.” She sighed as she stowed the basket under the sink. “What I wouldn’t give for a Kenmore with a pot scrubber setting some days.”
Heath didn’t get the reference, but he watched Jenny’s confusion and smiled. Janelle took some getting used to.
“Janelle! You’re doing it again.” Jenny cried in exasperation, looking from Heath to Aaron. “She talks like she’s from a different planet, not from Cheyenne as she claims.”
Janelle pulled a face, biting her lip as she looked toward Aaron in question. He shook his head.
Jenny frowned. “I’m your best friend. Something is not as it seems with you and I’d like to know what.”
“We’re here! Let the eating commence.” His pa’s booming voice ricocheted down the hall like a gunshot, saving them an awkward and made-up explanation of why Janelle was as she was. The truth was too far-fetched, the reality unfathomable. How did you wrap your mind around the fact that Janelle had dropped into Meyers’ Woods from 135 years in the future?
The idea was enough to knock you off your nut, as Jenny so wittily put it. It was old news to the family now. Although shocked at first, and not convinced without tangible proof, they had long since accepted her. That she saved Aaron’s life with her knowledge of what she called futuristic medicine helped tremendously, so they didn’t question the how or the why of it anymore. She was one of the family and it mattered none to any of them which century she was born into.
They had all agreed, however, that it was a secret best kept in the family, which Jenny was not. He would not put his sister-in-law at risk by letting word get out. Therefore, Heath welcomed the opportunity to change the subject.
He stood and set Jenny on her feet. Glancing at Aaron, who also appeared relieved at the interruption, he grinned. “Pa certainly knows how to make an entrance.”
“I’d say, and with impeccable timing for once,” Aaron chuckled. “I’ll just go say hello.”
“I’m right behind you, brother.” As he walked down the hall, Heath looked over his shoulder at Janelle who was dead on his heels. Not being a fool, she’d seen an opportunity to escape and taken it, leaving a frustrated Jenny behind.
“Don’t think this is the last of this, Janelle Jackson,” she called as she too made her way out of the kitchen. “I’m like a dog with a bone when it comes to a riddle, and you, my friend, are a conundrum.”
* * *
While waiting for supper, the six of them went out to play a game in the backyard. Called Pall Mall by Heath and Aaron, known as croquet to Janelle, it involved mallets, wooden balls, and something called wickets. To make it fair, their hostess paired each man with a woman. Married couples together, naturally, leaving Jenny matched with Heath. Although this made Jenny uncomfortable, she didn’t want to make a scene and prepared to make the best of it.
Janelle explained the rules for those who had never played before. Letty was elected to go first and they all laughed when her first attempt saw her ball careening off the course in the wrong direction.
“Do-over,” Janelle cried as she retrieved her ball. “That was a practice shot,” she said with a wink.
Letty’s second attempt was better, but landed a good distance from the first wicket. Next came Henry, who with much greater skill knocked his ball in a direct line for an easy second shot. He put his arm around his wife’s shoulder afterward, murmuring sage advice on how to improve her technique although he’d never played before either. Jenny thought it was sweet.
Janelle went next and hit Henry’s ball with a gentle roll.
“Woo hoo! Bonus shot.” Janelle called, then demonstrated the technique she called a ‘foot shot’ where she stepped on her own ball and smacked it with the mallet. As intended, Henry’s ball went flying off in the opposite direction. “Them’s the breaks, dear father-in-law,” was her laughing retort to Henry’s scowl. “I get one more.”
“Girl, I think you’re making up the rules as you go along.”
Aaron said in an aside to Jenny, “Those two are like blood father and daughter. They’re two peas in a pod and very competitive.”
“I can see that. In fact, I can see your pa plotting his revenge as we speak.”
Aaron took his turn, his ball rolling right in front of the wicket. Anyone coming behind him would knock him through, but also be entitled to a foot shot.
“Great shot, but rotten luck, babe,” Janelle said with a warm glance at her husband. “Another fraction of an inch and you’d have sailed safely on through, but instead, you’re toast.” Turning, she said, “You’re up, Jenny. I’m going to run in real quick and get the lemonade. Aaron, watch your dad. He cheats.”
They all laughed at her bold accusation, except Henry who grumbled in mock outrage, his lips twitching as he suppressed his own grin. Jenny enjoyed the interplay as she lined up her first shot carefully. It was a pleasant evening, the company was good, and she was learning a new game. Maybe she’d been too hasty in thinking Heath’s presence would spoil it for her.
She missed the ball completely on her first try as the mallet caught in her skirt.
“Take a step back and bend at the waist a bit, dear,” Letty offered.
Her second try connected but she watched as the ball weakly rolled only a few inches. Henry claimed a do-over for beginners on her behalf and helped her with her second shot, telling her to “give it a good whack.” It ended up amidst the others, except poor Henry’s, which lay thirty feet beyond thanks to Janelle.
Laughing, she turned to Heath. Her smile faded as she noticed he wasn’t there.
“Where did he go?” Henry demanded. “It’s his blamed turn.”
“Maybe he went to help Janelle with the lemonade,” Jenny suggested. “I’ll go see.”
“Fetch my eyeglasses from the dining room while you’re in there, girl. I need to be on top of my game if I’m gonna beat that daughter of mine.”
Smiling, Jenny nodded as she headed for the back door. She slowed when she heard raised voices engaged in a heated conversation. She couldn’t make out the words, but she recognized Heath and he sounded angry. What on earth?
She climbed the few steps to the small porch and opened the back door. Jenny could now hear every word distinctly. Good manners dictated that she step out and not listen, but the sound of her name necessitated that she stay.
“You’ll hurt Jenny’s feelings.”
“I won’t ask again, Janelle. Switch partners.”
“Heath!” Janelle protested.
“I know what you’re up to, Janelle Jackson, and it won’t work.”
“We can’t switch now. We’re almost finished with the first round.”
“I could leave, instead.”
“That would be incredibly rude. It would be obvious that you didn’t want to partner with her.”
“I don’t!” His response was just this side of a shout.
“Come on. She’s a sweet girl. Surely you wouldn’t ditch her in the middle of the game.”
“Fine. I’ll stay. But get your mind off matchmaking, little sister. I’m not getting involved with the likes of Jenny Harper.”
Jenny stiffened. She felt her heart, which suddenly seemed like lead, drop to her feet. As she had around Heath before, she wished for the ground to open up, but it remained solid beneath her feet.
“The likes of… What does that mean, you big jerk?” Janelle was full of outrage and she sounded spitting mad. “They aren’t the Rockefellers or the illustrious Jacksons by any means, but her father works two jobs to support his family. I thought better of you, Heath.”
“What are you talking about?” he asked, suddenly confused. “What a man does for a living or how much money he has makes no difference to me. Not one bit. I meant that she’s a child, Janelle, a wide-eyed, naïve little girl with a romantic crush. I’m fifteen years older, at least. No good can come of this game.”
“Eleven years. She’ll soon be twenty-one. Two years younger than me, which is hardly a child.” The anger in her friend’s voice had faded to annoyance.
“She’s too young,” Heath said, firm in his arguments. “Don’t you think I know she’s been sweet on me for a while now? It’s cruel of you to push us together and get the poor girl’s hopes up. Do not do this to me again, little sister, or I’ll bust your butt myself. I don’t want or need a wife.”
“Whatever,” Janelle fired back, her tone clipped as she gave her standard answer to something she outright disagreed with.
If they said more, Jenny didn’t know it. Although she was glad Janelle came to her defense, after ‘poor girl,’ she’d heard enough. His words echoed in her ears as she turned and all but ran back to the yard. He pitied her. Wasn’t that just lovely? Not only was she a child in his mind, but a pathetic besotted fool as well. Jenny closed her eyes, wondering how to get out of the rest of the evening. Maybe she could act sick and leave early.
Henry saw her first and slipped an arm around her shoulders.
“Jenny, you’re rather peaked. Are you ill?”
Sending a prayer to heaven for Henry’s timely words, she nodded. “I’m not feeling well all of a sudden.”
The door behind her opened and closed—twice. Janelle came up and, seeing them gathered around Jenny, immediately became concerned.
“What’s going on?”
“Jenny isn’t feeling well.”
“That came on rather quickly.” Heath’s voice added to the mix. Instead of stirring her as usual, the sound made her flinch. Her eyes found Aaron. “If you don’t mind, Aaron, would you take me home now?”
“Maybe you should lie down first, to see if it will pass,” he suggested.
“No. I’d rather go home, please.”
“If it’s your stomach, I could make you a soothing tea,” Letty offered.
“Please, don’t bother,” Jenny practically implored, barely managing to keep from begging.
“I have peppermint tea, it’s good for stomach upset,” Janelle proposed.
“No,” she barked. It was very unlike her to be so abrupt, but she couldn’t bear to be there another minute. More politely, she continued, “I’m sorry to be short, Janelle, but I’d really like to leave.”
She turned imploring eyes to Aaron, who was watching her closely. His gaze skidded over Janelle, before moving onto Heath. Next, he looked over her head toward the house before his eyes snapped back to her. Being very astute, the light of understanding dawned. No wonder he was a marshal so young. He opened his mouth to say something, but she cut him off, begging now. “Please, Aaron.”
Letty approached and touched her cheek and forehead in a very maternal gesture, checking for fever. “You’re cool but do look pale. The farm’s right on our way home, Jenny, we’ll take you.” With an arm around her waist, she walked with her. “Let’s sit on the front porch. Henry will fetch the wagon right away, won’t you, dear?”
Henry nodded and hurried toward the carriage house where the horses were tied. As she and Letty walked away, Jenny heard Aaron’s deep voice hum, but too low for her to make out the words.
It became clear as Janelle suddenly exclaimed, “Blast and tarnation, Heath, she must have overheard—”
Letty, who had no problem with her hearing, stopped and turned back in surprise. Not ready for another drama, Jenny kept on walking until she stood in the front yard, praying for Henry to hitch up the buggy quickly so she could get out of there.
He was rounding the corner of the house when Janelle came running up, her skirts bunched up in her hands, the others close on her heels, including Heath. She began apologizing profusely. Jenny shook her head, but remained silent, not trusting her voice. Whether Heath felt sorry about what he said she didn’t know, because for the few minutes it took Henry to pull up in the front drive, she avoided him—all of him—by tuning him out. She didn’t listen to him, which was awkward since he approached and called her name, and she for sure didn’t look at him. In the end, Letty told him to go away, that he had done quite enough.
“I’d like to apologize,” Heath said, his voice vibrating with frustration.
Henry helped first Jenny, then his wife into the high wagon before he added his opinion. “Son, I don’t know what went on here, but I agree with your mother. The women are upset and I think it’s best we leave things be for the evening.” He then walked around the horses and climbed up beside Letty.
Out of the corner of her eye, Jenny saw Heath draw near, stopping close to where she sat in the back. “I’m sorry, Jenny. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“Think nothing of it, Mr. Jackson.” Somehow, she managed to speak coolly, her voice controlled though her heart was in shreds. While she had the nerve, she gave him back his words in a cutting remark. “I promise by tomorrow you will have been long forgotten. Like a naïve little girl, my memory is short.” That was a lie, but telling him so made her feel the smallest bit better.
With perfect timing, Henry snapped the reins and set them in motion. It took all of Jenny’s willpower not to turn back, to see if her comment had made any impact. The three of them hadn’t cleared the lane to the house before Letty twisted in her seat and squeezed Jenny’s shoulder.
“I’m so sorry, Jenny. I’m sure Heath wouldn’t be intentionally cruel.”
“I overheard something not intended for my ears, Mrs. Jackson, but it doesn’t make the sting any less.”
“What did he say? I shouldn’t ask—”
“He told the truth. I have developed an infatuation. He thinks I’m a child, much too young and even if that weren’t the case, he doesn’t intend to marry. Janelle told me the same thing. None of it should have come as a surprise. This is entirely my fault for not listening.”
They’d reached the main road and unable to resist, Jenny glanced back. Heath stood in the yard alone, watching after them. She couldn’t read his expression from this distance, but his arms were crossed over his chest and his legs were locked in place. His rigid stance made it appear he was angry. She dropped her chin and stared at her folded hands. He had no cause to be, none whatsoever.
“He’s been hurt, you see—” Letty began.
“Thirty-two years old and nursing old wounds from a decade ago,” Henry bit out, grumbling. “He’s a damn fool.”
“Henry.”
“It’s true, Letty. We’ve said so often enough. He needs to find a good woman and set up house. He never will if he doesn’t stop wasting time with—”
“Henry Jackson! Don’t you dare say what you’re thinking in front of Jenny.”
He grunted, but complied. “Even so, we taught him better manners. Luke would be a better match for you, Jenny. He is much more even-tempered.”
“I’m really not looking for a match right now, Mr. Jackson.” At least not anymore, she added silently. “But I thank you for your concern.”
“You’re of marrying age, girl. You need to find a good man and either of my bachelor sons would be damn lucky to have a pretty little filly like you for a bride.”
“She’s not a horse, Henry.” Letty shook her head, angling her shoulders toward the back where Jenny sat. “Obviously, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, at least when it comes to putting their large boots in their mouths.”
“No offense taken, Mrs. Jackson.” For the first time since Heath had bayoneted her pride, Jenny smiled. “He sounds a lot like my papa.”
“That’s a compliment I’ll accept, Jenny girl,” Henry said, his voice still holding an edge of anger.
“I’m glad you weren’t offended, but let’s not encourage him,” Letty urged. “I’ve been working on what Janelle calls his caveman attitude and thought it was coming along.”
Jenny giggled, soon joined by Letty. Before long they were both laughing, although Jenny half-heartedly. As they rolled through the streets of Laramie, Jenny decided the evening hadn’t been all bad. Heath had helped her accomplish something, which should please him. After ten long years of unrequited love, she set aside her infatuation.