Debra Ullrick - Groom Wanted

Dear Miss Bowen,

As I have just moved to the United States of America from England, I have not had the pleasure to make many acquaintances as of yet. The women I have met do not share your good opinion to travel and to explore the world. I must confess, your exuberant advertisement has quite intrigued me, and I must meet you. If it is agreeable with you, perhaps I could come on Tuesday next or within a fortnight to meet you. We could spend time getting acquainted to see if there could be a future for us together. If this is agreeable, then please send a post to me straightaway.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,

Fitzwilliam D. Barrington

Relief drizzled over her. Mr. Barrington was willing to come here. She wouldn’t have to risk breaking her mother’s heart by traipsing off to New York by herself. She tossed everything from her lap onto the floor and rushed over to her writing desk.

Retrieving her best stationery, she dipped her pen in the ink well and penned her reply, making sure to use the swooping letters that looked so beautiful. Everything about this reply had to be perfect. After all, Fitzwilliam would make his decision about her and their future from it. Tomorrow she would take it to the post office. Bubbles of excitement popped through her. In her heart of hearts she felt she had at last found her very own Mr. Darcy who would come and whisk her away.

* * *

Jake saddled his horse and made his way to the Bowens’ house. No one would be expecting him for at least another hour, but he couldn’t sleep so he’d decided to head to their place early in hopes of seeing Leah. The morning nip brushed across him on a light breeze. He pulled the lapels of his wool coat tighter together, hoping the morning sun would soon penetrate the chilly air.

As he rounded the bend of pine trees nestled against the mountain leading to the Bowen ranch, his anticipation of seeing Leah caused his heart to beat erratically as he rode into their ranch yard. Leah had a way of making him feel special. He loved spending time with her.

He glanced toward the barn. There she was, sitting on a bench outside the barn door, petting Kitty, the family’s pet pig. Jake reined his horse in that direction. Leah raised her head and leaped up. Grabbing the ends of her light pink wrap together, she scurried toward him, her lavender dress swinging like a bell around her feet as she did. Her warm welcome made his heart smile.

“I was hoping I would catch you this morning. You won’t believe what I have to tell you.” She was practically bouncing on her feet.

“Morning to you, too.” He grinned.

There were those dimples again. Her eyes sparkled and her face shone brighter than the morning sun glistening off the dewdrops. Something had put that glow on her face. How he wished it was him, but he knew better.

“What won’t I believe?” He dismounted and stood in front of her. Kitty nudged her nose into the palm of his hand.

“Kitty, leave Jake alone.”

“She’s all right.”

“She’s a pest.” Leah leaned over and tapped the pig on the nose. “Aren’t you, girl?”

Kitty sniffed the air with her round snout. Jake patted her shoulder and gave a quick scratch behind her ears. Content with the attention, Kitty waddled slowly in the direction of the field blooming with purple camas flowers, no doubt to have her fill of camas bulbs. “That pig’s quite a character.”

“She sure is.” Leah laughed, then turned her attention from the retreating pig back onto him. “Come and sit down. I can’t wait to tell you my good news.” She grabbed his hand and pulled him along.

There was a lilt to her walk. The air around her rolled with joy. She let his hand go and he followed her to the same hewed-out bench she’d been sitting on when he’d arrived. After he tied his horse to a nearby hitching post, he sat down with her, careful to keep the appropriate amount of distance between them.

“Okay, bright eyes. What’s your good news?”

Her smile bracketed by those dimples was contagious, and he found his own lips curling upward.

“I think I found my husband.”

He wasn’t expecting that, and it took him a minute to gather his wits about him. “Oh, yeah?” He knew he should be happy for her. That it would happen someday. But the thought of losing his best friend made his gut twist into a painful knot.

“Yes. He moved from England to New York City and he wants to come here to meet me. I’m sending my consent today. I’m so happy. He sounds like just the type of man I’ve been looking for.” She went on and on oblivious to the pain her declaration was causing him. Pain he couldn’t articulate.

“Morning, Jake.” Michael’s voice drifted toward him from yards away. “I wasn’t expecting you here so early.”

Jake snapped himself together and stood. “Morning, Michael.”

Leah hopped up beside him. “What are you doing here?” she asked. “I thought you didn’t want to leave Selina alone.”

“I don’t. But she’s finally asleep now.”

“What do you mean, ‘finally’?” Leah tilted her head.

“The babies kept her up most of the night.”

Jake anchored his arms across his chest. Concern for a woman he’d come to greatly respect pressed through him. “How’s Selina doing?”

“Other than being exhausted, she’s doing well. Having twins is a lot of hard work. But Joseph and Lottie Lynn are sure worth it.” His eyes sparkled, then a wide yawn stretched his lips. It was then that Jake noticed the bags under Michael’s eyes.

“So, what are you doing here?” Leah inquired again.

“I wanted to show Jake what to do.”

“Can’t Haydon or Jess do that?”

“They could, but...”

“You know both Haydon and Jess are going to hang you for not trusting them to show Jake what to do,” Leah interrupted her brother.

Michael frowned. “It’s not that I don’t trust them. I wanted to be here to welcome Jake. To show him around and...”

They continued to talk about Jake as if he weren’t standing right there between them.

“Fine, fine. If you insist on being the one to show him what to do, I’ll run over and sit with Selina and the twins until you get back. I know that will help put your mind at ease and help you to relax a bit.”

“It sure will. Thank you, Leah. But don’t wake her or the babies. And don’t knock. Just open the door quietly and let yourself in.”

“Yes, yes, Michael.” Leah dragged out the words and rolled her eyes at her brother. “You worry too much. You really need to learn to lighten up.”

“Just wait until you have children. Then it will be my turn to tell you to lighten up.”

She shook her head and glanced over at Jake. “See you later, Jake.”

He gave a quick nod and watched her as she headed toward Michael’s house.

“You like her, don’t you?”

Jake yanked his attention to Michael. “Sure I like her. She’s been a great friend to me.”

“She’s more than a friend. I can see it in your eyes.”

Jake shook his head and waved Michael off. “The only thing you see in my eyes is respect.”

“If you say so, buddy.” The smirk on Michael’s face bugged Jake. Couldn’t a guy have a female friend without everyone making a big deal about it?

Best change the subject before Michael put together any more pieces that didn’t fit. “So, what do you want me to do?”

“Changing the subject, huh?”

“Michael.” Jake sent Michael a warning glare. “I’m here to help, not discuss my friendship with Leah. You want my help or not? Besides, thought you didn’t like leaving Selina alone.”

Worry crowded into Michael’s face immediately followed by determination. He glanced at his pocket watch. “Oh, man. I’ve got to hurry. I’ve been gone ten minutes already.”