Because of Rebecca(30)

“You were being so mysterious that night, wearing a cloak and going into the shadier part of town where no woman in her right mind would go during the day, let alone at night.” Jared’s brows arched. “What was I to think? I feared for your safety. I don’t know what I would have done if something had happened to you.”

Rebecca nodded and her stomach knotted with regret for her deception. “I’m sorry I worried you, but I didn’t have a choice. I had to see Ruth made it safely to Memphis.”

He squeezed her hand again. “Until I thought I had possibly lost you, I didn’t truly understand the depth of my feelings for you. I need you in my life, Rebecca. I truly do.”

“I-” she began, but was interrupted by their food arriving. Jared released her hand and they ate, but she noticed him watching her from time to time as she cut up the meat and placed it along with portions of the vegetables on her fork to make the perfect bite.

“Is it as good as you are making it out to be?” he finally asked.

“Only because I’m sharing the meal with you.” She laid her knife and fork aside and picked up her water glass.

“Pot roast is one of Mary’s specialties at Oak Hill,” he said. “She can make it for you anytime you like.”

“I’ll remember that.” She took a sip of her water and set the glass down.

“If you do decide to come live at Oak Hill—”

“Jared.” She interrupted him. “You don’t have to persuade me. In fact, I’m honored you want to marry me knowing I have a child and an overbearing aunt as part of the bargain. Though Josephine may be making her own plans for the future.”

He wiped his mouth with his napkin and laid it on his plate before he pushed back from the table. “Would you consider letting me adopt Lucas?”

Rebecca’s vision blurred with unshed tears. “Y-you’d really want to do that?”

“Yes. That is what I was going to say before you interrupted me. I want to raise Lucas as my own. I want to make it legal.”

She quickly rose from her seat, and her napkin fell to the floor in her haste to round the table. He stood and she practically flung herself into his arms. “Yes, oh yes. I’d like that very much.”

“Of course, you’ll have to marry me first,” he whispered into her hair. “There would be no point in an adoption without you becoming my wife.”

She looked up, her cheeks glistening with tears. “Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you.”

He laughed, hugging her close, and lifted her feet off the floor. Applause erupted from the occupants at the next table who’d heard their conversation.

“So much for not making a spectacle,” he muttered and set her back down.

Rebecca softly laughed and brushed the moisture from her cheeks with her fingertips. She couldn’t stop smiling, nor could she remember being happier in all her life.

Their waiter appeared. “May I offer you a bottle of our best champagne? Compliments of the management on this special occasion?”

“Thank you, but no, we have an appointment,” Jared explained.

“Very good, sir. I’ll bring the bill.” The waiter nodded and hurried away.

Rebecca sat again and hand trembling, she reached for her water glass. “Goodness I’m shaking.” A few more tears ran down her cheeks and she swiped them away, but more fell. She rose. “Please excuse me while I run back up to my room and compose myself.”

“I’ll wait for you in the lobby.”

“I won’t be long.”

Jared paid their bill and went to wait for Rebecca. To his chagrin Stuart Delaney was standing by the front desk.

“Mr. Hollingsworth is it?” Delaney tipped his hat and sauntered over to him.

“I am.” Jared wondered what the man wanted.

“The hotel clerk tells me your name is Jared Hollingsworth, but I know for certain you’re not the same fellow I played cards with and won the plantation from some months ago.”

Jared’s jaw twitched. “No. I’m not. In fact, that was my ungrateful cousin Rory. He holds no claim to Oak Hill, your IOU is a forgery, but he will pay you the debt he owes.”

Delaney grinned. “How can you be so sure?”

“I will see to it, that is how I am sure you will be paid. He has the funds to do so and is waiting at Oak Hill for you to come collect.”

“Maybe I don’t want the money.” Delaney sneered. “Maybe I want the plantation.”

“Why? A man of your means is a free spirit. A place like Oak Hill will bind you in shackles and drain you dry. What good would come of it?”

“Ah, I see you, too, are a gambler, Mr. Hollingsworth. Your game is not at the table, but with your words.” Delaney pulled a small case from his pocket, took out a cheroot, and offered one to Jared, which he declined.

“If by a gambler you mean I take a chance daily on the land to provide for my family, then yes I am one, but I do not mince words with you Mr. Delaney. Oak Hill is not for the taking and if you do not accept Rory’s payment on the debt he owes I will take legal action to retain what is rightfully mine.”

Delaney chuckled. “We’ll see about that, Mr. Hollingsworth. We’ll see.”

Jared looked up and saw Rebecca descending the staircase. Her eyes enlarged and her pallor paled at the sight of them.

“Jared? I’m ready to go now.”

He nodded and glanced back at Delaney. “Remember what I said.”

“Is that a threat?”

“Take it as you like.” Jared did an about face and offered her his arm and they left the hotel.

Once outside, he relaxed and looked down at Rebecca by his side.

“Whatever did that man want?”

“Nothing. And that is all he will get.”





Chapter Seventeen

At Mr. Merewether’s law office, Rebecca settled into one of the matching Chippendale leather chairs opposite his large desk and took the legal documents he handed her. She read through the papers regarding the sale of her country home and the surrounding property on his desk awaiting her signature.

Looking up, she smiled at the man. “Will a surveyor be going out to draw the boundary line for the two acres of land and the family burial plot I wish to give to my aunt?”

“Yes, I’ve made all the arrangements,” he said. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get someone here to do it while you were in town, but your request was sudden. When those documents are ready, I will forward them to you in Jackson.”

Rebecca signed the document and took a sheet of paper from her purse with Mitchell Cooper’s name and address on it. She handed them to him. “Mr. Cooper, a friend’s husband, will be happy to handle my affairs while I’m in Jackson.”

Mr. Merewether looked over the document and nodded. “It seems everything is in order,” he said. “As soon as the property sells, I’ll have the house closed and the pieces of furniture you specified shipped to you.”

Relief surged through her. “Excellent.”

He escorted her to the outer chamber where Jared had waited while they conducted their business.

“It was a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Hollingsworth.” Mr. Merewether shook his hand. “I wish you and Miss Davis many happy years together.”

“Thank you.”

“Good day, Miss Davis.” The attorney bowed.

“Good day, Mr. Merewether.”

Late June heat greeted them when they stepped outside of the brick building. “We need refreshment. Let’s have tea. There’s a lovely shop a few doors down,” Rebecca suggested, taking his arm.

He smiled and nodded. “I think that a wise decision.”

A few minutes later a smiling hostess led them to a corner table and took their order.

“I’m sorry Mr. Merewether wouldn’t allow you to join us in the meeting,” Rebecca said

“It’s understandable,” Jared said. “Mitchell is very private about my affairs as well. We never discussed business in front of Charisse when she was alive.”

The waitress returned with their pot of tea. “Will there be anything else?” she asked.

“No. Thank you.” Rebecca smiled as she waited for the tea to steep and realized it was the first time Jared had spoken of his beloved by name. “Your wife had a lovely name.”

Jared nodded. “She was just as lovely in person. Sparkling blue eyes, golden hair, and the prettiest smile I’d ever seen until I met you. We were happy.”

Rebecca laid her hand on his. “I’m glad.”

After their tea, she took him to several stores she thought would interest him. Then he insisted on going into one she’d never visited before. Michelo’s Estate Sales.

“This must be new,” Rebecca said.