Page 26 of Chloe's Christmas Escape
“That’s not your responsibility,” he muttered.
In hindsight, she probably should have left whatever it was alone, but even her da would tell a person she had never been good at that. “What exactly is your business in town?” It didn’t sound like marshal business, and his silence only led her to believe it was not. “You remember I am your wife, Mr. Masters?”
He grabbed her arm and pulled her back, bringing them to an abrupt halt. A small gasp escaped from Chloe’s lips as he yanked her towards him. An older woman on the small porch nearby stood up to observe them. Chloe tensed and realized this wasn’t a conversation they should have in public.
“I know exactly who you are, and right now that does not give you access to my personal affairs, just as there were things in your life that you were not ready to share with me in Chicago.” Jackson paused, glancing at the blue house with the woman on the porch. “Now, please put on a friendly smile and be kind to the woman you are about to meet. She’s like a second mother to me.”
Chloe sucked in a sharp breath. He was correct in the things that he’d said, but how dare he assume she would be rude to someone because she was upset with him?
“I have some manners,” she admonished.
His hand returned to her back, guiding her to the porch. “Hello Mama Holstead.” He stepped forward, scooping the older woman off her feet to spin her in a circle.
“Welcome home, my boy.” Mrs. Holstead patted his cheeks, then turned to her. “And you must be Chloe! I’m Marjorie Holstead. My house is just across the street. I came over and started the stove and kettle for you this morning. The bath water should be ready soon.”
Chloe couldn’t keep up with the woman’s movements. How had she anticipated their arrival? She seemed to come and go from the Masters’ home as if it were her own.
“It’s lovely to meet you,” Chloe squeaked, while questions flew through her mind. “Thank you for going to the trouble.”
“It’s no trouble at all.” She lifted Chloe’s satchel from her before guiding her into the cozy little house. “I’m afraid I’m going to be the one causing trouble soon enough.”
“Oh? What trouble is that?” Jackson stayed at the entrance, his words reverberating through the room as if he couldn’t come further inside.
Chloe studied him closely, noting the dark circles under his eyes and the rumpled appearance of his clothes. She tucked away her desire to ask how long he’d been gone and when was the last time he slept. She would have plenty of time on the long journey home to get all the answers she wanted. Her fingers absentmindedly touched her wedding ring as she thought about what the future could look like if they stayed married.
Would he even speak to her if they were on their own? If he kept up his silent treatment, she resolved to communicate with him via written notes.No more of this for forty years, she thought determinedly.
The options before her were clear - she could either engage in conversation or, as he had proposed earlier, seek an annulment and return home to revel in the joy of gossiping, knowing he wouldn’t be there to hush her.
“I’d like to travel to Sterling with you. Amanda is pregnant again and Charlie sent a letter asking for me to come. Only if you will take me.” Mrs. Holstead looked expectantly between the two.
“Of course, you can travel with us,” Chloe quickly agreed. She knew Jackson thought highly of Mrs. Holstead, and she’d known him since he was a child. It would also give Chloe someone to speak to when he refused to talk during the journey.
“I’d be honored to escort you out there,” Jackson offered.
“Oh good! I’ll leave you two for a bit.” She gave Chloe a quick squeeze before turning back to the door. “Jackson, in or out. You cannot just stand in the doorway.”
A rough chuckle came from him, but he did as she bid, leaning down to press a kiss to her cheek. “Yes, ma’am. Thank you, Mama Holstead.”
“Dinner is at six,” she called over her shoulder to Chloe, and then disappeared with a quiet bang of the door.
“She’s lovely.” A smile spread across Chloe’s face as she peered through the large front window, her eyes following Mrs. Holstead as she practically danced across the street to her own door.
Carefully, she untied her cloak, laying it over a wooden chair. It would need to be beaten before she could put it on again. With one final relief-filled breath, she kicked off her battered shoes and let her toes stretch out for the first time in days. Jackson stayed in one corner of the room, and she tried to ignore his presence.
Her hands trembled as she fumbled with the tiny buttons that ran down the length of her gown, finally undoing the last one. Reaching for the hissing kettle, she yanked it from the hook and emptied its contents into the bathtub. The smell of steam and iron filled the air as she refilled it from the rusted hand pump beside the sink, then carefully placed it back over the fire.
Chloe stepped out of her traveling dress, laying it over her cloak. That would need to be washed. As she undid her petticoats, she wondered how long they were going to stay and if she could do some washing before they left town. Stepping out of the layers of crinoline, she stood in her chemise and stockings and looked around the room.
Turning to Jackson, she wasn’t surprised to find he had disappeared.
Lord, I don’t know what to do. Help me.
Jackson was sure someone was testing him.
Unfortunately, he didn’t know if it was God, the devil, or Chloe.
She was more of a temptation, not a test.
