Because of Rebecca(9)

To her delight, she reached the water’s edge first. She lifted her skirt and dipped her toe in to test the water when he caught up to her.

“I said in the water, not on the edge,” he teased, grabbing her hand and pulling her along with him into the cool stream.

“Jared!” she shrieked, her feet landing in the icy water, toes sinking into the muddy sludge.

“Jumping in is more fun than dipping a toe.” He kicked the water with childlike abandon.

Cool droplets splattered the front of her already damp dress. “You do not play fair, sir,” she accused with mock indignation. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had as much fun. It had been years since she and Mariah had slipped off to a nearby stream to frolic without Aunt Josephine being the wiser.

A fleeting sadness engulfed her for a moment as she missed those cherished times with her sister. However, Jared’s chuckle brought her back to the merriment at hand.

“Playing fair isn’t fun.” He sidestepped her attempt to splash him with water.

“Is that why you decided to help Ruth?” Rebecca raised her skirt higher than before so it did not drag in the water any more than it already had. Then she carefully stepped on a medium size smooth rock in the middle of the stream. Planting her feet firmly on the rock’s sides, water rushed over her toes and she wiggled them, tipping her head back to enjoy the sun.

“Help?” Confusion evident in his voice, she looked over and saw his brow furrowed as if he didn’t know what she meant.

“Yes. I’m most anxious to help Ruth reach her family. Don’t you share this desire?”

****

Jared frowned. Why did she keep talking about a woman named Ruth? And why should Rebecca want him to join her efforts? They had only just met, but it was clear that whoever Ruth was Rebecca was sincere in her desire to help.

“Exactly what do you have in mind?” he asked.

She puckered her lips. Damn, but she was a vision of loveliness with the sun cascading down around her.

“I would assume you had a plan,” she said slowly.

A plan? Why would he have a plan?

Confound it! He found her talk confusing. But that really didn’t matter because right now he was far too tempted to kiss her when she turned her face from the sun and smiled at him.

“How else will I take her with me?” She slipped her feet from the rock back into the water. “That is, as soon as you tell me where I can find her. Do you have her hidden on your plantation?”

He laughed at her prattle until her last statement sank in. “Hidden here? Why on earth would I do that?”

She shrugged. “I suppose that would be risking your livelihood to bring her here. I pray she is safe awaiting my introduction.”

Their conversation became more peculiar by the moment as if he should know more about Ruth than he did.

“I’m afraid—” A burst of laughter interrupted him as his foreman’s daughters came running from the tall grass and into the water.

“Can we join you, Mr. Jared?” the oldest of the three girls asked.

“Plee-eaze,” the two younger ones chimed, kicking up water around them.

He smiled. “Just don’t get Miss Davis wet,” he warned, but it was too late. In an attempt to side step the girls’ frolic, Rebecca stumbled over the rock she’d previously stood on and fell back, sending up a splash of water.

The girls began to squeal with laughter.

“Rebecca!” Jared sloshed through the water as quickly as possible to help her to her feet. “Are you all right?”

“I’m—I’m fine. I’m fine.” She laughed accepting his help up. “Just wounded pride and some damp clothing. I’m sure I’ll survive.”

“Harmony. Eliza. Sue Ellen.” George Paxton’s booming voice sent the girls scrambling out of the water.

“Ah I should have known.” Paxton scowled, planting his fisted hands at his hips. “How many times have I told you to stay out of the water? Especially, when neither ya ma nor me is around?”

“They weren’t exactly alone, Paxton,” Jared said, drawing attention away from the girls to himself and his wet companion.

“Ah, Mr. Hollingsworth, I didn’t see you, sir,” Paxton’s features relaxed slightly. “I hope my girls haven’t been a bother to ya or caused any harm.”

“Don’t be too hard on them. They were having a little fun is all,” he replied, helping Rebecca out of the water. “Miss Davis, this is George Paxton my foreman. Paxton, this is Miss Rebecca Davis, a friend.”

“It’s a pleasure, ma’am,” Paxton said.

“Nice to meet you, sir,” Rebecca said. “You have three precious daughters.”

“Thank you, ma’am. Their ma and me are right proud of them.” He shifted his weight awkwardly. “Why don’t you both come back to the house and have some tea? Isabella was putting on a pot when the girls left. It will give Miss Davis a chance to dry off.”

Jared looked at Rebecca and she nodded her consent.

“Thank you, Mr. Paxton for the offer. I’m afraid I’m quite clumsy at times,” Rebecca said.

“So my girls didn’t cause your fall?” Paxton asked.

“No, sir,” she assured him.

Jared gathered their shoes and her parasol then offered her his arm as they walked barefoot through the field toward Paxton’s house. He hadn’t paid a visit to them in a while. In fact, he rarely saw his foreman’s family except on holidays or special occasions these days. He could already see Miss Davis had a life altering effect on him in the short time he’d known her.

A brown spotted mongrel greeted them as they approached the small yard with a stone path and a rose trellis at the entrance by the door.

“I didn’t know you had a dog,” Jared said as the girls ran ahead to play with the pup.

“Simpson found him a few weeks back wandering the road and brought him to the girls. I reckon’ someone had tried to drown a litter and he got away. Mind you, I didn’t take a fancy to him at first, but he grows on ya,” Paxton said, grinning.

“A pet is good. I had a little chick when I was young,” Rebecca said.

“A chick? Now that would be an odd pet. Did ya get your hand pecked?”

She nodded. “All the time. That’s why I didn’t cry when it was big enough for my father to kill for Sunday dinner.”

Paxton guffawed. When he sobered, he beckoned, “Come on in and meet Isabella.”

Jared allowed Rebecca to go ahead of him into the house. Down the hallway, he spotted Isabella by the stove in the kitchen, pouring steaming water into a china pot.

“I’m back,” Paxton called.

“Did ya find them?” she asked, not looking up.

“Aye. Down at the stream,” he replied. “I brought some guests for tea.”

Isabella glanced their way and smiled.

“It’s good to see you again, Mrs. Paxton,” Jared called in greeting, noticing her normally trim figure swollen with child. “This is my friend Miss Rebecca Davis.” He realized he’d referred to her twice as his friend. Perhaps that was the best way to describe their current relationship.

“It’s a pleasure, Mrs. Paxton,” Rebecca said.

“Call me Isabella. Everyone does.” She placed a supportive hand to her back and collected two more cups from the cupboard.

“Let me get that tray for ya,” Paxton said, then carried the tea service to the table. “I’ll call the girls.”

“No. Let them play so we can have some quiet,” Isabella said, stopping and staring at Rebecca’s dress. “Goodness! You’re soaked.”

“I had a little accident down at the stream,” Rebecca explained. “The walk here took care of the dripping. I’m almost dry.”

“But you could catch a chill,” Isabella sounded concerned. “Tea can wait a few more minutes. You must come with me and change into something dry. Mr. Hollingsworth, I’m surprised you didn’t see to it the moment you arrived. And Mr. Paxton, is this anyway to treat our guest?”

Jared grinned as he watched Isabella usher Rebecca away from the kitchen.

“We’re in the dog house now,” Paxton grunted.

Jared nodded, and realized he still held Rebecca’s shoes and stockings with his own. He laid them in the seat of a nearby rocking chair, then donned his socks and shoes.

****

“You have very pretty hair, Miss Davis,” Isabella said, opening up a chifforobe.

“Thank you.” Rebecca patted at the back of her hair, wondering what it must look like in its damp state. She moved closer to a mirror hanging on the wall of the bedroom to take a look. A few hairpins had come loose, and she easily rectified that. Using her fingers, she reshaped the few ringlets around her face hoping Aunt Josephine did not notice her mussed state when she returned to the hotel.