Ruth Langan - Jade

“Any time, Miss Jewel.” He placed a hand beneath her elbow to assist her into the rig.

Her pulse speeded up and she blamed it on anger.

As she took up the reins he said, “I hope you’ll be cautious on your ride into town.”

“You needn’t fear.” She flicked the reins, and the horses lurched ahead. “I wouldn’t want to test my guardian angel too often. By the time the Golden Dragon is completed, he may be the only one left on my side.”

Deep in thought, Wade watched until her carriage disappeared below a ridge. Then he returned to the campfire and tossed his lukewarm coffee into the flames.

“Reverend Weston, look what Agnes made for you.” Lavinia Thurlong had a death grip on her daughter’s arm, shoving her forward until she was standing directly in front of the handsome minister.

“It’s a blackberry pie.” Agnes blushed and giggled as their fingers brushed.

“Thank you, Agnes. That’s very kind of you.” Wade gave her a gentle smile and set the pie on the windowsill of Durfee’s Mercantile. Once a week he held services in the back room. The people came from miles around to hear his ringing sermons.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Jade step down from her carriage, flanked by her three sisters. He fought to cover his surprise.

“Agnes is the best pie baker in Hanging Tree.” At the moment it wasn’t her daughter’s baking skills that interested Lavinia. The only thing she had on her mind was snagging an eligible bachelor for eighteen-year-old Agnes.

Agnes was a pretty little thing, with a headful of dark curls, big brown eyes and a dimple in each cheek. The trouble was, all the cowboys for miles around were sniffing after her. And none of them was what her mother considered proper husband material.

Now, Reverend Wade Weston, on the other hand, was handsome enough to make even Lavinia’s heart flutter. And every mother knew that a man of God would make an excellent husband. After all, the town minister and his family always had a place to sleep and food on the table. Not like farmers, who had to scratch a living from the soil. Or cowboys, who were always off chasing a dream, or another herd of mustangs. And from Reverend Weston’s sermons he was known to be kind, considerate, thoughtful. In short, every mother’s dream.

“I guess she takes after you, Lavinia,” Wade said, keeping his smile carefully in place as Jade trailed her sisters up the steps.

Lavinia blushed nearly as much as her daughter. With matching smiles the two women filed into the room and took their places alongside their neighbors.

“Morning, Wade.” Diamond greeted him affectionately.

“Good morning, Diamond.” He accepted her handshake. “Where’s Adam?”

“Out with the herd on the north range.”

“Send him my best.” He turned to Pearl, who was lowering her parasol. “I see Cal didn’t join you.”

“He and the boys are with Adam. This time of year there’s just too much to do out on the range.”

“I understand.” He smiled at Ruby, who was adjusting her shawl to hide her revealing neckline. “I’m happy to see you, Ruby.”

“You would have seen a whole lot more of me if Diamond hadn’t reminded me to cover up.” She knotted the ends of the shawl and tossed them carelessly over her shoulder before sauntering inside the mercantile. “Wouldn’t want to create a scandal,” she muttered.

The eyes of every man in the room riveted on her as she followed her sisters up the aisle to a row of vacant seats.

Wade was still chuckling when he turned to Jade with his hand outstretched. “Good morning.” He kept his tone deliberately bland, though he felt suddenly too warm.

This day she was wearing a gown of pale blue silk, with mandarin collar and black frog fasteners. Her long hair had been twisted into an elegant knot on top of her head, with little tendrils slipping loose to kiss her cheeks and the nape of her neck.

“I’m glad you came with your sisters. I was afraid you might begin to avoid Sunday services.”

“And miss hearing you warn the good people of Hanging Tree about the evil woman in their midst?”

He nearly laughed at the sparks that shot from her eyes. She was daring him to rile the congregation. And he was a man who had always loved a challenge. But he wasn’t here to cause trouble. He would rather prevent it whenever possible.

She shot a look at the steaming pie. “An admirer, Reverend?”

“It’s Wade,” he said with a wicked smile. “And the pie is from Agnes Thurlong.”

Jade returned his smile with a sugary one of her own. “A fine choice. Agnes is shy and sweet. She’d never give anyone a moment of trouble.”

Unspoken laughter warmed his voice. “I see you came to town prepared to goad me into a fight.”

Jade lifted her chin a fraction. “I came today because Diamond suggested that Sunday assembly would afford me an opportunity to face Lavinia and the others who have begun a whispering campaign against me.”

Wade wanted to tell her they weren’t whispers. They had grown loud. And ugly.

“I’ll warn you again, Miss Jewel. Tread carefully. Even neighbors can become a dangerous mob, given the right set of circumstances.”

He saw the way her eyes narrowed, and realized his warning had fallen on deaf ears.

“I also came today to thank my guardian angel.”

If he was surprised, he managed to hide it. “And how would you recognize this paragon?”

“At the end of your service you always ask if anyone has any news they wish to share with the congregation. I’ve been thinking that I would plead for my guardian angel to reveal himself so that I can properly thank him.”

Wade couldn’t hold back his laughter. “I’m sure such a request would bring dozens of men leaping to their feet for the chance to be…properly thanked by Miss Jade Jewel.”

She felt her cheeks grow hot. “I believe you’re having fun at my expense, Reverend Weston.”

“I told you. It’s Wade. And I’m not making fun of you. More than half the men in this town would give a great deal to have Miss Jade Jewel indebted to them.”

“I think you have me confused with my sister Ruby.”

“If you believe that, you underestimate yourself, Miss Jewel.”

She didn’t allow herself even a moment to bask in the glow of his praise. After all, he was merely being kind. It was his job to say such things to people, in order to keep them coming to his service. Besides, sooner or later he would show his true colors and take sides with the townspeople against her.

“I’ll say good day. I’m sure you’ll provide us with plenty of food for thought, Reverend Weston.” She emphasized his title before pulling her hand free and brushing past him.

“I’ll try my best, Miss Jewel.”

Wade spent another half hour greeting the farmers and ranchers and their families who took advantage of Sunday-morning services to stock up on supplies and visit with their neighbors. While he made small talk, or listened to their litany of problems, he found himself glancing across the room to where a slim young figure in a silk gown the color of Texas bluebells sat beside her sisters.

A number of people nudged each other, whispering and pointing at the four fascinating Jewel sisters. But it was Jade who caused the greatest interest. Each day, as the Golden Dragon took shape, the rumors spread.

Whenever their eyes met, Wade felt a growing admiration for the woman who was the object of so much speculation. Whatever she was feeling, she kept her spine straight, her gaze level.

By the time he started his sermon, he had found his inspiration. And by the time his sermon ended, even Lavinia Thurlong and Gladys Witherspoon agreed that the preacher had never displayed more zeal.