Page 5 of A Groom for Heather
“I’m going to take that as ayes.” Heather leaned forward towards the man. “I tell you what, Pastor Collins, you may be able to bully all the other women in this town, but you won’t be bullying me. I am nomilquetoast. I have half a mind to sell my ranch and take my butcher shop to the next town over before I let you tell me who I may or may not marry.” She sat back up in the seat. “I may never marry again.”
“But Mrs. Barnes…”
Heather didn’t listen to anything else as she slapped the reins on the back of her horse and headed towards the dirt road leading from Millie’s property. As Heather passed the fencing that separated her friend’s fields from hers, she felt her chest start to burn. Taking a deep breath, she gulped air as a tear started to fall down her cheek. She tried to concentrate on the small stream weaving between the two properties.
Giving a little sob, the tears started in earnest. She pulled on the reins, stopping the buggy along the edge of the field, and placed her face in her hands.
Why did Jackson have to die?
She couldn’t imagine living in Last Chance without him. She recalled his letters when they were courting over thousands of miles. She fell deeply in love with him and the area as she read his letters filled with stories about the land and people of Last Chance.
He was the butcher in town, and he kept the town safe from predators. When a mountain lion would wander too close to the herd, Jackson was sent to take care of the problem. The local ranchers paid Jackson in meat, which he would then sell at his shop, along with the furs. He also organized hunts with a Lakota Indian named Red Eagle and traded heavily with the Lakota tribes that lived on the Great Plains.
Heather thought Jackson was gentle through his communications, and when she finally came to the small western town, she realized her future husband was so much more. He was kind, always lending a hand and looking for those that needed help. Heather recalled so many times when he would deliver meat to a family in need and not expect anything in return. He always told her that because the Lord had blessed them so richly, they needed to bless others.
Her husband had a heart for people. He encouraged her in becoming a midwife and cried with her when she would return home after losing a baby.
What Heather would give to have Jackson’s arms around her once more.
“Heather?” a soft voice called to her. Heather felt something grab her arm and she shrieked, opening her eyes to see Beatrice Collins standing next to the buggy. Bea quickly removed her hand. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
Heather wiped the tears away from her burning cheeks. “I was just deep in my thoughts.” She took several deep breaths. “What can I do for you, Beatrice?”
“I just wanted to apologize on behalf of my brother…”
Heather lifted her hand. “You don’t need to do that, Bea. He is quite aware of what he is doing.”
Bea twisted uncomfortably, wringing her leather gloved hands together. “I know. He means well. He just has a peculiar way of going about it.”
“Well, that isn’t reassuring in the least.”
“Look at how many people have gotten married once more? Good matches with good men. These men provide protection and since we can’t be landowners, it ensures the protection of our property as well.”
Harrumph! Heather exhaled loudly. “I’d rather sell my property than to be forced to marry a man I didn’t know or love.”
Bea leaned back over and put her hand on Heather’s arm once more. “Don’t think ill of Barnaby. Please,” she pleaded. “He has his faults, but underneath all that …”
Heather watched Bea struggle for words. “Awkwardness?” Heather offered.
Bea smiled. “Awkwardness is a good word. Underneath all that awkwardness is a good man. A God-fearing man.”
Heather shifted in her buggy. “Do you know what I’d like, Bea?” Bea shook her head. “I’d like to see him have a taste of his own medicine. I’d like for him to be forced to marry someone he didn’t love and see how it feels.”
Beatrice stepped back. “Heather! You shouldn’t say such things.”
Heather lifted her tear-filled eyes to her friend. “I know. Jackson always said that one of these days speaking my mind would get me in trouble. I guess that day is now.” The sound of buggies and people traveling down the road toward town caught her attention. She could see Pastor Collin’s buggy coming down the path. “I need to get back home to Cecily and Arthur.”
Beatrice moved into the grass so Heather could lead her horse on the dirt road. “What are you going to do?”
Heather shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“I don’t want you to leave, Heather.” Bea gave a small smile. “I know Millie would be lost without you.”
“Millie has her new husband now. I have my new family to look after. I’ll pray about it and see what I should do.”
“May I stop by tomorrow?”
“I have to go see Lauren Hale. She’s due in two months.”
