Jessie (Big Sky Dreams 3) Read online

  Jessie gave them instructions about cleaning the table and their hands and faces before slipping downstairs early. She hoped Seth would be a little early, so it was satisfying to open the door and find him in one of the rockers. The questioning, almost vulnerable look on his face as he

  132stood and came her way was a little hard on her heart, but she made herself stick to business.

  “The girls and I will be taking the day off”

  “All right,” Seth agreed, adopting her formal tone.

  “We’ll be back at closing, but probably not before then.”

  Seth nodded and waited for any special instructions she might have. He half-expected to be reminded about not moving things around, but Jessie said nothing. Seth, however, had a question.

  “Should I assume you want me to check with you each day about work, or should I just plan on working?”

  “You can just come to work,” Jessie said, her voice slightly more friendly.

  “I’ll plan on that.”

  Seth would have taken his coat off and rolled up his sleeves, but Jessie

  was staring at him. He stood still, knowing she had more to say but

  certain they would be interrupted at any moment. He was wrong. “You shouldn’t have left,” she said, almost in a whisper. “No, I shouldn’t have. I’m sorry, Jess.”

  He hadn’t called her Jess yet, and certainly not in that tone that used to melt her heart. At the moment it was almost too much for her.

  “Maybe I shouldn’t have come back,” Seth made himself add. “Maybe it’s going to be too hard for you.”

  Jessie shook her head. “I’ll get used to it, and the girls do need you, Seth. I mean that.”

  “I’ll do all I can to help you, Jessie. It was never my intent to make things hard or to make you miserable.”

  Jessie was nodding when the girls arrived.

  “We’re going somewhere with Mama!” they tried to tell him, each girl talking over the top of the other as well as finishing each other’s sentences.

  “How fun.” Seth got excited with them, seeing the smile on Jessie’s face as she watched them. He hunkered down to their level before asking, “Where are you going?”

  “We don’t know.”

  133”A mystery,” Seth said slowly. “That is fun.”

  “We want you to come,” Hannah said.

  “I’m sure I would enjoy it, but someone has to mind the store.” “Can you do it by yourself?” Hannah asked.

  “I think so,” Seth said, realizing she would question him for some time on this topic if he let her. He knew a distraction was needed. “I forgot to tell you that you both look very pretty in your dresses today,” Seth said, fixing Hannah’s collar. “The next time I see you, you can tell me all about what you did. Have a good time today and take good care of your mother.”

  “She takes care of us,” Clancy said, her brow furrowed in sevenyear-old logic.

  “Yes, she does, but you can take care of her as well, don’t you think?”

  The girls didn’t know what to do with this. They stared at their father and then looked to Jessie, but she told them only to bid their father goodbye and go wait for her in the rocking chairs out front. Both girls hugged Seth, having no idea the effect this had on him, and then headed out.

  “Will you be all right on your own?” Jessie asked him.

  “I think so. Have a good time.”

  Jessie hesitated, not sure how to say what this meant to her. She wasn’t altogether happy with his presence, but at the moment this summer day away from the store with the girls was like a dream come true.

  “Thanks, Seth,”

  “You’re welcome.”

  Jessie slipped away before either of them could speak again. Seth walked out behind her to watch them walk away, wishing he could have known exactly what Jessie had been thinking.

  134

  “WHERE ARE WE GOING?“Hannah asked for the fifth time. Jessie had planned to ignore her but had suddenly had enough.

  “First of all,” Jessie said as she stopped walking, forcing the girls to stop with her, “you’re going to stop asking questions of me.Anyquestions.”

  “Why?” Hannah asked.

  “That’s a question, Hannah. I will answer it, but it will be my last one. I want you to just come along with me and enjoy the day. I have plans, but they might change. Whatever we do, we’ll have fun, and that’s all you need to know. Do I make myself clear?”

  The girls nodded, and Jessie continued down the street. They both wanted to ask questions, and a few did slip out, but Jessie kept them on task. The bank was the first stop and then the livery. The Wheeler women were headed out of town.

  “How is this, Mrs. Potts?” Heather asked that lady, presenting the skirt they had finished for her.

  “Very nice,” Mr. Potts said, fingering the fabric and then taking

  135it to the mirror to hold in front of her. She smiled at what she saw, causing Jeanette and Heather to smile as well. The women finished taking care of that lady and seeing her out the door and then went back to work.

  Jeanette had not been lying in wait for Heather, but she had thought long and hard about whether or not she should say something. Telling herself not to have Nate on her mind, she tried to open the conversation.

  “Heather, have you ever longed for a husband?”

  “I have,” Heather admitted, “many times.”

  “Why have you not married, do you think?”

  “I think I’m picky, Jeanette.”

  “In what way?”

  “Well, he would have to be just the right one.” Heather stopped suddenly with her sewing, her head tipping in thought. “I’m not sure I’m the marrying kind. Men don’t seem to notice me.”

  “What if someone did?”

  “Well, I’d certainly be complimented, but he’d have to be just the right one.”

  “Tell me about the right one.”

  Heather was all ready to do this, but someone had come to the door. It was a man this time, Jeanette had seen him around town, but they’d not met. He was looking only for prices on shirts and not ready to order anything that day, but by the time he left, it was time for the women to take turns with their dinner breaks. Not until after Heather left to eat dinner did Jeanette remember they hadn’t finished their conversation.

  The girls had done a pretty good job. It wasn’t often that they went to the bank with their mother, and Jessie didn’t think she had ever hired a rig and taken them out. They were wild with excitement as she sent the horse and buggy out of town, and when she turned in under

  136the archway that said Holden Ranch, Jessie was sure their screams of delight could be heard all the way back to town.

  “Now, girls,” Jessie said, slowing the rig and working to get their attention. “I haven’t talked with Meg, so I don’t know if she has time for company. This might be a very short visit.”

  The girls barely looked at her, and she knew it was no use. No matter how long they stayed, the girls would want more.

  “Well, Jessie!” Meg was suddenly there to greet her, coming from the house, Cathryn on her hip as the buggy pulled up to the porch.

  “Hi, Meg,” Jessie called back. “Are you up to a little company?”

  “Certainly,” Meg said before the two hugged. “I’m working on my baking. Come to the kitchen, and we can visit there. Hi, girls.”

  Hannah and Clancy did greet her but went right back to making Cathryn smile. The five of them trooped indoors to find Savanna waiting, and in very short order the children were playing in the living room, leaving the women on their own in the kitchen.

  Seth could not believe how quiet and lonely the store felt. He had been somewhat busy but not moving nonstop, and this made Jessie and the girls’ absence all the more pronounced. He also forgot to ask Bri if he could pack something for dinner. Noon came and went, and he was starting to wish he’d eaten a bit more breakfast.

  “Hello, Seth,” a male voice sudden
ly said. Seth turned to find that Trace Holden had come in the door.

  “Hello, Trace,” Seth said, putting out his hand. The men shook before Trace spoke again.

  “It’s been a while.”

  “It has, yes. Too long.”

  A brief silence fell between them before Seth spoke again.

  “I hope you’re not looking for Jessie. She’s not around today.” “As a matter of fact, I passed her on the road.”

  137”Did you?” Seth said with a smile. “Did she say where she was headed?”

  “She said it was a surprise, so I assume they were headed toseeMeg.”

  Seth could not stop his smile. Such a thing never occurred to him, and he knew the girls would love it.

  Seeing that smile, Trace relaxed a little. He had been a bit concerned ie, knowing that Seth was back in town, but the smile on the

  other man’s face showed that he was genuinely pleased.

  “What can I get for you?” Seth finally remembered to offer.

  The men worked together for a time. Trace needed to order an item from a catalog that Seth wasn’t familiar with, but they finally managed it. The talk didn’t get personal again until Trace was ready to head on his way.

  “Will I see you Sunday?” the rancher asked.

  “I’m planning on it.”

  “Do you think Jessie and the girls will join you?”

  Seth smiled sadly before saying, “Maybe someday, but I doubt if it will be anytime soon.”

  “Well,” Trace said with quiet sincerity, “it will be good to see you, Seth. Thanks for your help.”

  “You’re welcome, and thanks, Trace.”

  Seth was on his own just a moment later and for nearly 30 minutes afterward, a state that suited him very well. He had some things to think about.

  Seth hadn’t planned to stick around and wait for Jessie and the girls, but they arrived back just 20 minutes before he would have closed the doors. The girls were flushed and smiling, and Jessie looked very relaxed.

  “Well, now,” Seth said, concentrating on his children. “Did you have a good time?”

  about Jess

  138”We saw Joey and Savanna and Cathryn andNetty!“Clancy said. “And we had dinner on the ranch!” Hannah added.

  “That sounds fun,” Seth said with a smile, even as he wondered who all those people were.

  “What did you do?” Hannah asked, surprising Seth because Clancy was still talking about their day-the barn, the horses, and something about a moose.

  “I took care of customers and cleaned a little,” Seth told his oldest. “Was it busy?” she asked next.

  “At times, but overall it was quiet.” After Seth finished saying this he smiled at her in hope of reassuring her. She seemed worried. Once again he wished he knew what her different looks and silences meant. He didn’t dwell on it but went back to their day out.

  “Who is going to tell me who Joey and Savanna are?”

  “Mama’s cousins,” Clancy said, and before Seth could look to Jessie for clarification, Hannah cut in.

  “Meg is Mama’s cousin.”

  “Who is Meg?”

  “She’s married to Brad. They have Savanna and Cathryn, and they’re

  going to have another baby before Christmas. I hope it’s a boy.” “Well, now,” Seth said, remembering again how long he’d been

  away. “Who is Joey?”

  Clancy handled this one, explaining about the little boy and his baby sister.

  “Trace was in here today,” Seth told them, “and I didn’t even know to congratulate him.”

  “You didn’t help him?” Clancy asked, her face showing her shock. “No,” Seth said on a laugh, “I didn’t realize his wife had just had a baby. I would have offered congratulations.”

  Both girls frowned at him, and he looked to Jessie.

  “How do I explain that word?”

  “Let’s see.” Jessie frowned a little as she thought. “It means to tell someone you’re pleased for them.”

  The girls looked at their mother for a moment and then back to

  139Seth, their faces open and interested. Looking into their eyes-at the moment so full of trust-Seth was reminded that at times he didn’t know exactly what to do with them. He glanced at Jessie and found her watching her daughters as well. Before he could figure out what she might be thinking, she spoke.

  “I can lock up,” Jessie offered.

  “I’ll get out of your way then,” Seth said, taking his cue. “Goodbye, girls,” he added, and headed to get his coat.

  “Seth.” Jessie stopped him, and he turned. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome,” he said but then couldn’t turn away. Something in her face stopped him. “Didyouhave a good time?”

  “Yes,” she said, not able to stop the smile that came to her mouth. “I haven’t had a day off since Bri worked for me.”

  “I didn’t know Bri worked here,” Seth said, looking as surprised as he felt.

  “It was before she and Rylan were married.”

  “I don’t think she’s ever mentioned that.”

  “When she comes in, I play with Danny and she waits on herself”

  Seth laughed, not just because the image was funny but because she was unbelievably relaxed. Seth never thought of Jessie as a tense person-she took most things in stride-but her very stance right now spoke of someone who didn’t have a care in the world.

  Wishing he could find something else to say to any of them, Seth turned for his coat. He was pleased and surprised to find that all three of them waited right where they were and said goodbye to him. Seth walked down the boardwalk in the direction of the Jarvik house, his mind trying to work out if he’d missed something just then or if leaving really had been the best idea.

  “What do you think it means?” Meg asked Brad that evening. “I was just so surprised to see Jessie in the middle of the day. She can’t have welcomed Seth back with open arms, but she left him in charge of the store.”

  140”Don’t forget that he worked there almost from the first moment he came to town,” Brad said. “And it wasn’t long before they were married. I assume he knew every aspect of the business and still does.”

  “I guess so,” Meg said, still trying to put the pieces together. She was genuinely pleased that Jessie and the girls had come, but it was still a surprise.

  “Did it wear you out?”

  “Pretty much. Talking to Jessie is no effort, but I wanted to ask ques tions

  and didn’t feel I could. That was the most draining part.” “She’s one independent lady-has been as long as I’ve known her.” “Yes, she is. Jeb has said she’s a lot like her father?’

  “Did you know Hiram?”

  Meg shook her head now. “I came for my first summer visit after he died-after Seth left too.”

  Brad was thoughtful for a moment, and Meg caught his look and asked about it.

  “I was just thinking how much things can change, sometimes very swiftly.”

  “Were you thinking about that for us or Jessie?”

  “At the moment for Jessie. Seth’s coming back must have turned things upside down for her.”

  “Maybe the Lord will use it to get her attention.”

  “Maybe. I must admit that I haven’t really trusted God in that area,” Brad said. “I don’t pray for her very often.”

  Brad grew thoughtful again, but this time Meg didn’t ask. She suspected he was praying for Jessie, and she took advantage of the quiet to do the same.

  “When you didn’t come back,” Rylan said to Seth over supper, “I assumed she wanted you to stay and work.”

  “Yes, she did. She and the girls left almost as soon as I arrived and got back right at closing.”

  141”Where had they gone?” Bri asked.

  “Holden Ranch. They said something about Jessie’s cousin marrying Brad.”

  “That would be Meg. She’s Jeb and Patience’s niece.”

  Seth nodded, still thinking about
the interchange.

  “Did they have fun?” Bri asked, spooning potatoes onto Danny’s plate.

  “They did. Jessie looked completely relaxed.” Seth paused and suddenly smiled. “She mentioned that you’d worked for her, Bri.”

  “Before I was married,” Bri said with a smile of her own. “I worked part-time for her and part-time for Jeanette.”

  “You were a busy lady.”

  “She still managed to find time to get into trouble,” Rylan said dryly. Bri laughed.

  “I think there’s a story I need to hear,” Seth said, watching their warm way with each other and feeling envy.

  “Let’s just say,” Rylan worked to put it tactfully, “that Sabrina ran into interesting people in her zeal to share Christ.”

  Bri smiled in agreement but also said, “There has been some fruit.”

  “Yes, there has,” Rylan agreed with a smile, thinking of the different women whose lives were changed because his wife reached out. Suddenly coming back to the present, Rylan asked, “How are you doing with the girls?”

  “I’m not sure. I wish I knew them better. I wish I could tell what they were thinking.”

  “Did something happen?” Bri asked, hearing his quiet tone.

  “Not specifically, but sometimes they look at me and I can’t tell what they’re thinking.”

  “They probably don’t know themselves,” Rylan said. “A man they didn’t know existed has come on the scene and is their father. That happened only four days ago, Seth. They’re as confused and uncertain as you are.”

  Seth stared at the other man. Thatwaswhat he was seeing on their faces. Why had he not recognized this?

  142”Has it been only four days?” Seth finally asked.

  “This is Wednesday night, and you met them Sunday afternoon. Even the notion that Jessie would leave you alone with the store this soon is a surprise.”

  Seth had nothing to say. For him, it felt as if he’d come back to Token Creek weeks ago. So much was familiar-not just the town, people and job, but also the way he felt about things. It was good to be reminded that in the most important things, the things involving his daughters, this was all very new.

  “How is it going with Jessie?” Rylan cut into his thoughts.