RNWMP: Bride for Theodore (Mail Order Mounties)(22)

Jess shrugged. “Somehow it’s lost its appeal, I’m afraid.”

“You want to stay here and cook for those five men, don’t you?”

“Of course I do. I want to marry Teddy and spend the rest of my life having babies and being in love.”

Miss Hazel frowned. “Have you told him that yet?”

Jess shook her head. “No, but I did tell him that the reason I’m still unmarried is because I’ve been in love with him since I was ten years old. I would think that would be the information he would need to have to know I want to stay with him forever.”

“Maybe you need to just stay it right out. Men are dense sometimes. Especially when it comes to matters of the heart. You need to talk to him and make sure he wants you to go. It would be a horrible thing if he wanted you to stay, and you wanted to stay, and you left anyway. Why, it would be a crime against love!”

Jess couldn’t help but smile at that. “You are so dramatic sometimes, Miss Hazel.” She picked up her pails. “I’m going to pick more berries. I’d love some help if you don’t have some reading that has to be done.”

Miss Hazel got to her feet. “I always have reading that has to be done, but I’m happy to help you pick berries. When are we making the jam? Tomorrow?”

“We’ll need to. I’m going to spend Wednesday making meals to last them a few nights. I worry that poor Nolan will starve to death!”

“I’ve never in my days seen a man who can eat the way that man does. I worry that something’s wrong with him.”

Jess grinned, handing Miss Hazel the two pails she carried, and fetching two more for herself. “I think he’s fine. He just likes food.”

They chatted about the five Mounties as they walked. “I haven’t quite figured Joel out yet. He’s so serious,” Jess said.

“Elijah is the one I don’t understand. Have you heard the boy say more than three or four words at a time?”

“I have! He was teasing Theodore about me this morning. I really enjoyed the whole conversation.”

“Huh,” Miss Hazel said. “Maybe he’s one of those men who needs to get to know you before he’ll talk to you, but when he starts speaking, he never shuts up.”

Jess shrugged. “That sounds like it could be right. Kendall is still pretty quiet, but it sounds like he’s very musically inclined.” They reached the berry patch, and Jess put one of the buckets down while she started filling the other. “Theodore has promised me there would be dancing one night before I go. There are only three nights left.”

“Theodore is afraid to dance. He knows that the other men will each expect a turn with you. No one is going to want to dance with me.”

Jess smiled. “I think if they realized just how sprightly you are, they’d beg to dance with you. I’m not much of a dancer myself, but I sure do enjoy watching.”

Miss Hazel smiled. “You wouldn’t have a chance to do any watching. The men would all want a turn to spin you around the floor.”

“It’s odd there are no other women here. It’s a beautiful place, though, and I love it here.” Jess put her full bucket on the ground and picked up the empty one, continuing to pick while she talked. “I do wonder if I’d be able to keep from going mad if there were no other women around. It would be lonely.”

“You miss your friends, don’t you?”

Jess nodded. “If JoAnn or Lisa were here, this place would be my very own version of paradise. A man to love, friends to spend time with, and a beautiful place to walk and explore. Plenty of work to do.”

“Only you would be looking for work to fill your paradise, Jess.” Miss Hazel frowned. “I wish I had an answer for you.”

“Me too. But the only one who can change things at all is Teddy. And he has to want to.” Jess continued picking berries, trying to keep her mind off the fact that she was leaving soon. Tomorrow the preacher would be gone, and there’d be no way they could marry.





8





When the Mounties filed in that night, Jess noted that Kendall was carrying his guitar. She smiled, happy that she’d have a chance to dance with Theodore. There was something about being held in a man’s arms as he spun her around a room that made her feel loved.

As soon as supper was over, Jess hurried to the sink, and she and Miss Hazel made short work of the dishes. As they were doing that, the men were pushing the tables up against the wall so there would be room for dancing.

Kendall sat down in a chair along one wall and tuned his guitar. Jess was surprised when he started to play. Theodore had said he was good, but she’d had no idea he could possibly be that good. Why wasn’t the man playing professionally? And when he sang, Jess felt goose bumps on her arms. He was absolutely fantastic.

Theodore waited until Jess put down her dish towel, before grabbing her hand and spinning her out onto the floor. To Jess’s amusement, Elijah bowed low in front of Miss Hazel, begging for the pleasure of her company on the dance floor.

The beat was fast and fun, and Kendall seemed to pick up the pace after a bit. For the second dance, they switched partners and Jess danced with Nolan while Miss Hazel danced with Joel.

When Kendall started a slower song, Jess found herself back in Theodore’s arms. “He’s really good,” she said, her voice filled with amazement.