Jessie (Big Sky Dreams 3) Read online

  Jessie had completely forgotten that Seth had said he was coming to help with the store, but he was good at his word. Much as he’d done on Saturday, he was on the porch when she opened the store.

  “Hello,” she said, sounding distinctly cooler than the last time he’d seen her.

  “Hello.”

  “I don’t know if there’s enough work for you to stay,” Jessie said without warning, and Seth nodded, watching her. She turned and went back inside, slipping behind the counter. Seth followed slowly.

  Seth glanced around a moment, seeing that things were in good order, but he wasn’t willing to leave quite so fast. Instead he said, “I have some memory of you saying there was always something to do.”

  “For me, yes, but not always for two people.”

  112Again Seth nodded, but he was willing to bide his time.

  “I seem to remember that you had a hard time getting to the books,”

  he tried next. “Why don’t I watch the store while you do that?”

  Jessie gave him a direct look and asked, “Don’t you have anything

  better to do?”

  The one word completely disarmed her. She hadn’t expected this. And in truth, she didn’t know why she was fighting him. He’d certainly proved on Saturday that he still knew his way around the store.

  “I guess I could work on the books,” she said after a few minutes, her voice back to normal.

  “Okay,” Seth agreed, forcing himself not to sound pleased. “If something comes up that I can’t handle, I’ll come find you.”

  Jessie stared at him a moment, and Seth stared right back. He wanted to ask why she didn’t want him around right now but knew they could be interrupted at any moment. As it was, she didn’t give him time. Moving around the edge of the counter, she disappeared into the storeroom without another word.

  “What are you doing?” Hannah wanted to know when she found her father behind the counter not ten minutes after he arrived. He was restacking a few piles of mail that had yet to be claimed.

  “Good morning, Hannah,” Seth said, not sure if her question was directed at the moment or his being there at all.

  “Does Mama know you’re back there?” Hannah persisted. “She does. She’s working on the books this morning.”

  “Do you know how to work with the mail?” Hannah asked, coming close enough to climb onto the counter and stare up at him. “I do. I used to work here a lot.”

  .“I didn’t know that,” Hannah said, sounding a bit suspicious and a lot like her mother.

  113”Do you help out around the store?” Seth asked, hoping to change the direction of the conversation.

  “All the time.”

  “That’s great. Does Clancy help too?”

  “She dusts.”

  “I’m glad to hear you girls are so helpful.”

  “When did you work here?” Hannah asked, now sounding like the child she was.

  “A long time ago, when your mother and I first met.”

  “Mama’s parents owned the store,” Hannah said.

  “I remember her telling me about them.”

  “You didn’t know Grandma and Grandpa Wheeler?”

  “I’m sorry to say I didn’t. I think your Grandpa Wheeler had been dead only about a year when I met your mom.”

  “Where did you meet her?”

  “Right here at the store. She gave me a job.”

  Seth was certain that Hannah’s questions would have continued for the next hour, but a woman came in and Seth was given the excuse to leave his daughter so he could wait on her. He wasn’t afraid to tell Hannah the details she wanted to know, but he thought such questions should be asked in front of her mother. Seth knew that Jessie was suspicious of him as it was. He had no intentions of doing anything behind her back or giving her any worry on that account.

  In fact, just as soon as he had a chance, he darted into the storeroom to talk to her.

  “Some of the questions I expected the girls to ask me yesterday came pouring out of Hannah this morning. She wanted to know how we met and if I’d known your parents.”

  “Is that a problem?” Jessie asked, not sure what she was missing. “I don’t mind telling her any of it, but I wanted you to know that we’d talked some more.”

  Jessie nodded with understanding, and in her heart she really did appreciate his coming to her, but he need not have worried.

  “Actually, as I was falling asleep last night I wished I had warned

  114you. That’s how they are sometimes. Give them a few days to think on something, and you won’t hear the end of it for a while.”

  “Do you want me to wait until we’re together to tell them things?” Before he could say anything else, Clancy found them.

  “Hey, Seth,” she started without preamble. “Hannah says you sorted mail.”

  “I did, yes. Did I do a good job?”

  Clancy did not take the red herring. She questioned Seth until she was sure he was right for the job and then went on her way. Not until Clancy moved off did Seth notice Jessie’s face.

  “You’re enjoying this,” he accused.

  Jessie tried to look innocent, but Seth could see right through it. He might have had something more to say to her on the topic, but someone was calling from out front.

  Jessie didn’t allow a full-blown, satisfied smile to stretch her mouth until after he’d left the storeroom.

  Seth didn’t know when he’d been so tired. There had been no break all morning. If it wasn’t a customer, it was one of his daughters asking questions or telling him how to do something. At one point Seth was ready to snap and ask the girls to leave him alone, but then he caught himself. He was going to have to tell Jessie that he needed a dinner break soon, but for the moment he chose to calm down and think about why he’d come back.

  Not long after he’d trusted in Christ,Cassyhad written to him about a verse in the first chapter of Luke. He’d not committed it to memory, but he recalled that it said something about turning the hearts of fathers to their children. He didn’t know why, but it seemed that men often deserted their children. His father had certainly not stayed around to know him.

  Now on the job so many months later, Seth remembered Cassy’s letter and the verse and began to enjoy the interrogation of his daughters.

  115That they might not always be respectful was becoming very clear to him, but it was not the first issue that had to be covered. Their love and trust for him was.

  “Are you going to dust up there?” Clancy asked. She’d come upon Seth when he was next to a section of very tall shelves. “It’s high for Mama.”

  “I’ll tell you what,” Seth suggested. “Why don’t you run get the feather duster, and I’ll lift you up so you can dust it.”

  Clancy’s eyes got huge before she ran to find the duster. Seth was not surprised when she was back in little time, looking up at him expectantly.

  “Ready?” Seth asked, looking down into her face with a sensation in his heart he’d not felt before.

  “Ready!”

  “All right,” Seth said, swinging her up onto his arm. “I’m going to set you on my shoulder. If your arm can’t reach, I’ll lift you higher.”

  Clancy nodded, breathless with more than just running for the duster.

  No small amount of dust came down into their faces, but they were a good team. With Clancy feeling as light as thistledown, Seth simply walked slowly in front of the shelf while she sat comfortably on his shoulder, her arm doing all the work.

  “How’s it look?” Seth asked at one point, only to hear Hannah come up behind him.

  When you’re done there, you should probably sweep the front walk.

  Mama does that every day.”

  “What now?”

  Hannah and Seth-Clancy still perched on his shoulder-turned to find that Jessie had come into the aisle. She was not looking at all pleased, and Seth quickly but carefully lowered Clancy to the floor.

  “Have they been giving y
ou orders?” Jessie asked of the man before her.

  Seth looked uncomfortable and was working on a delicate way of saying yes when Jessie speared her daughters with her eyes.

  116”Have you been giving Seth orders?”

  Both girls nodded, guilt written all over them.

  “That will end right now,” Jessie said in a voice only a fool would argue with. “You are not Seth’s boss. If I want something done,I willask Seth. You are not to boss him around ever again. Do I make myself clear?”

  Both small blonde heads bobbed.

  “Now apologize to him and remember what I said.”

  “I’m sorry” came from Clancy and was immediately echoed by Hannah.

  “Thank you, girls,” Seth barely got out before Jessie spoke again. “Go upstairs and start working on dinner. Make butter and jam sandwiches. The bread is cut and ready.”

  Jessie watched them obey and then turned back to Seth. “Has that been going on all morning?”

  “It was my idea to put Clancy on my shoulder,” Seth said, not trying to protect the girls if they needed correcting but wanting Jessie to have a full picture.

  Jessie stared at him, something occurring to her for the first time. He was afraid to make a wrong move. She had told him there would be no third chance, and he was obviously willing to put up with anything in order to be a part of their lives. This should have given her great satisfaction, but it didn’t. She should have wanted to make his life miserable, but it wasn’t in her.

  “I’m going to go check on the girls,” Jessie said. “I’ll bring you some lunch.”

  “You don’t have to feed me, Jessie. I can stop over at the hotel.”

  “I don’t mind,” Jessie said, and for a moment they looked at each other. “I just realized,” Jessie continued after a few seconds, “I forgot to pay you on Saturday night.”

  Seth looked dreadfully uncomfortable with this, but he knew he was going to have to pay rent as soon as he found a place of his own to live. He had savings he’d just put into the bank in town, but he also had plans for that savings, and those did not include using it for monthly living expenses.

  117”I’ll just cover last Saturday at the end of this week if that’s all right,” Jessie said. Seth nodded. More regret knifed through him, and he was not able to look at her for the moment. A customer came in, and Seth went to the front counter, using him as an excuse to walk away from his wife.

  “How are you doing, Jeb?” Rylan asked. Jeb was sitting in his living room near an open window, his ankle propped up on a pillow.

  “Not bad. It only throbs now, and Doc Ertz says that will lessen in a short time.”

  “It looks like begot everything back into place,” Rylan said, coming close to look at but not touch the wrapping.

  “I think so. It would be nice to have it work normally when all is said and done. Tell me, Rylan,” Jeb suddenly said, “what’s going on with Jessie and Seth?”

  “Were you surprised to see him?” Rylan asked, smiling a little. “I could hardly believe it. Do you know how long it’s been?” “He told me eight years.”

  “How did it go with him and Jessie?”

  “Good. She let him meet the girls, and he’s working there right now.”

  “Patience was going to stop in to check on Jessie while she ran errands, but she’s not back yet.”

  “They’re coming to supper with us tomorrow night.”

  Jeb looked thoughtful for a few seconds. He was concerned about his cousin, but he also wanted to talk to Seth. Much as he trusted Rylan, Rylan didn’t know Seth like he did.

  “I want Seth to come to supper tonight. Do you know if he has plans?”

  “I don’t know, but I can swing over there and mention it to him.”

  “I would appreciate it, Rylan. I feel I need to talk to him. I didn’ttalk tohim as much as I should have while he was still living here, andI’ve regrettedthat for a long time.”

  118”I’ll tell him.”

  “You might run into Patience, but let me tell her what I have in mind.”

  “Certainly.”

  Jeb nodded in satisfaction, reached for his Bible, and said, “I’m ready for my private sermon now.”

  Rylan laughed but also opened his Bible, ready to tell Jeb what he’d missed on Sunday.

  It was Seth’s turn in the storeroom, this time to eat lunch. Jessie had brought him a plate some ten minutes past, and he’d taken her place at the worktable in the back room of the store. The account books were still open and waiting for her, but Seth didn’t look at them. He was curious as to how she was doing financially and knew her system from when they’d first been married, but he would never have presumed a welcome to that information.

  Seth was still deep in thought when he realized he was being watched. Hannah had come to the edge of a tall shelf and stood staring at him. He’d not seen the girls since their mother had sent them upstairs and knew why she was hesitating. Seth had no such qualms.

  “Hi, Hannah,” he greeted her. “Did you eat dinner?”

  That little girl nodded and came forward.

  “Was it good?”

  Again the nod, but Hannah was still silent.

  Seth scrambled for something to say to this suddenly quiet child. It saddened him to think that if she couldn’t order him around, she had nothing to say. He thought he would welcome some questions right now and even tried to come up with one for her. His mental gymnastics made him want to laugh and just a hint of a smile came to his lips. Seeing it, Hannah had a small smile of her own. Seth’s smile grew a little, as did Hannah’s, and before long the two were grinning at each other.

  “Come here,” Seth invited and Hannah moved close. Seth fixed the

  119turned up collar on her pink gingham dress and smoothed her hair. The action seemed to tell Hannah that all was forgiven, and she asked a question.

  “Does Bri feed you at their house?”

  “She does.”

  “What do you eat?”

  “Whatever she serves me,” Seth said, not admitting that he wasn’t at his best in the kitchen and was thankful when anyone offered him food. “I like chicken,” Hannah volunteered.

  “So do I. With dumplings.”

  “What are dumplings?”

  “Have you not had dumplings? Your mother makes great dumplings.”

  Hannah looked surprised and would have moved away, but Seth caught her arm.

  “I don’t want you to ask your mother why she never makes dumplings. If you haven’t had them, then she has a good reason.” “Time.”

  Both Hannah and Seth looked up to see that Jessie had joined them. Seth sat back in his chair and looked at her.

  “Not even on Sundays?” he asked, remembering that’s when she would serve them to him.

  “I’m tired on Sundays.”

  “I’ll bet you are,” he agreed softly, seeing for the first time just how much had changed. The two of them working the store even after Hannah came along was nothing to watching both girls and still keeping track of customers at the same time. For a moment Seth wondered if she looked forward to school starting, but then realized he knew the answer. Jessie would not want her daughters away from her just so things could be easier. It wasn’t her way.

  “Will you make dumplings sometime, Mama?” Hannah asked, her voice not at all demanding.

  “Sometime, yes, but you’re not to pester me about it.”

  Hannah nodded and swiftly left the room. Jessie knew she would

  120tell Clancy about the mystery food and Clancy would demand all the details, but at the moment she let her go.

  “I won’t tell the girls until I close the store,” Jessie said to her husband, “but we’re invited to Ry and Bri’s tomorrow night for supper.” “Good,” Seth said, nodding with satisfaction.

  Jessie was opening her mouth to ask why that was good when Hannah came back to the storeroom to tell her that Patience Dorn was looking for her.

  Seth went back to work as soo
n as Jessie left the storeroom.Hethought it might be nice to sit for a while longer and relax, but some ,

  thing in Jessie’s face had disturbed him. He didn’t know how to read her anymore. Some things were the same and some looks were unmistakable, but as angry as she had been with him in the past, there had never been distrust, and he was sure that’s what he was seeing now.

  A part of him knew he was holding back. His faith in Christwasreal, but he was still Seth Redding, a man who loved to tease and have fun with others. In just the few days he’d been back, he’d been tempted to tease Jessie a dozen times but didn’t dare. He wanted to do the same with his daughters but didn’t know how that would be taken.

  Pete Stillwell, the local livery owner, came in looking for shoe polish just then, and Seth had to go out front and put his mind back on the job, but he did so with a prayer that he could someday be himself again. Not the selfish man he had been, but the peaceful man he now was-the one who loved his family but had no idea how to show it.

  121

  “HowARE YOU?” PATIENCEwasted no time in asking Jessie. The women had walked only to the back of the store, but it was private enough. “Jeb wanted me to come yesterday and then decided you might need a little more time.”

  “It’s all right. Seth is good with the girls.”

  “And with you?”

  Jessie put it plainly, “He doesn’t have to be good with me.” “Jeb wants to know if he’s treating you well.”

  “Well, tell him I’m fine. We’re getting along fine. How is Jeb doing, by the way?”

  “It’s hard on his back to lie around, but other than that he’s doing well.”

  “Good. The girls and I will come by on Sunday to see you.” “We’ll plan on that. Do you want to come for dinner?”

  “That sounds good. What shall I bring?”

  “Just the girls. I’ll take care of everything else.”

  “What time?”

  “Come at noon. If we’re running late, just use the back door. Now, Jessie, before I forget, do you have thread in this color?” Patience asked, bringing a piece from the reticule that hung from her wrist.