Her Dearly Unintended (8 page)

Not being afeared of Silas took some getting used to. But so did trying to line up his thoughts with Katie Ellen dancing around so close. Pretending to be married to save your life was one thing, but lying to a parson was a pup of a different color. Josiah didn't like it. Still, he could see that Katie Ellen's argument made sense to those of the feminine persuasion. His ma would die of shame if it went round about that he and Katie Ellen had spent the night alone. The salt had already been sown. No use in trying to dig it up now. Besides, this Silas preacher would think naught of staying with a married couple. Soon he'd be on his way out of their neck of the woods and no one would be the wiser.

Katie Ellen brought him the rag, but she skittered away quick as a stray kitten. Josiah surveyed the cabin from the boarded up window to the pile of ashes and water.

“Let's put him in the bedroom.”

“Which bedroom?” She blinked rapidly.

“
Our
bedroom.”

“And let him ruin—” She stopped. Her neck tensed as she forced the words out. “If you think it best, dear husband.”

Josiah blinked. If it weren't for the rumbling hunger in his stomach, he'd have to pinch himself to make sure he wasn't dreaming. What new devilment had she devised for him?

“I'm fine.” Silas propped himself up on his elbow, with one hand holding the rag to his forehead. “But let's cut down on this chin music. You two are giving me a headache.”

Josiah's head was about to burst, too. “Er . . . wife. I need to talk to you again. Privately.”

Katie Ellen's eyes widened and her face turned red. “If you think it's necessary, I'll talk to you. But only if that's what you really want.”

“Look at you'uns,” Silas said. “You don't trust each other past howdy. There's a lid to fit every skillet, but you two sure were matched wrong from the beginning.”

“It's been a trying day on Mrs. Huckabee, so don't judge her too harshly,” Josiah said. Katie Ellen lowered her eyes and picked at her fingernail.

“Well, I'm truly repentant for my role in this mess, but I've got to say you had problems before I walked up. I haven't heard a kind word out of either one of you. Would it rip your tongue up to say something nice to your husband?” Silas peered at Katie Ellen from beneath the wad of cloth held against his forehead.

Now her cheeks turned scarlet. She rubbed her hands together, twisting them ruthlessly. Her mouth closed in a firm line and she shook her head. For once Katie Ellen was silent.

He wasn't going to put her on the spot! She might've decided to give Josiah a chance, but she certainly wasn't going to be the first one to draw.

“You behave more like enemies.” Silas sat up, a long proce
dure involving a generous amount of grunting and creaking. He scooted backward until he reached the fireplace hearth and had them both in view. Scrubbing a dried spot of blood off his coat, he pulled his legs against his chest and got comfortable. “So how'd you two come to get hitched, anyway?”

Josiah looked to her. No, sir. This whole fib had been his idea in the first place. She rolled off her knees and sat on the floor next to their arson parson. “Do tell him, husband. I love this story.” She waited, her curiosity outweighing her desire for pretended conjugal devotion.

Josiah's eyes turned thoughtful. For a moment she thought he'd forgotten the question, but then with a sigh he began. “Asking Katie Ellen to marry me was the culmination of a lifelong campaign.”

At the earnestness of his reply, Katie Ellen's neck grew warm. She ducked her chin and straightened her skirt. “He doesn't want your life story. Just tell him the truth. You know, how you brought me flowers and I said yes. Something easy like that.”

“But it wasn't easy, was it?” Josiah kicked up a knee and crossed his arm over it. He let his eyes trail over her in a most possessive manner before beginning. “You see, Silas, I'd been sweet on Katie Ellen for as long as I can remember. Most of our growing-up years I took to pestering her because I didn't have any more sense than that. And then when I was fifteen I figured I was finally man enough to do something about it. We were at the church picnic and I caught her at the well and kissed her—kissed her good.”

Katie Ellen hopped to her feet. “Honestly, Josiah.” He couldn't tell Silas the truth. If Silas knew how Josiah felt about her, then their ruse would be over.

“Sit down,” Silas ordered.

To her surprise, her knees folded and she dropped down on her rump.

“Go on.” Silas produced a knife from his boot and began picking at his teeth with it.

Josiah took the frayed hem of his britches between his fingers as he spoke. “Well, that kiss done settled it to my thinking. Katie Ellen was my girl and would be forever, but there was one thing I wasn't counting on—my pa.”

She could feel his gaze, but she couldn't look his way. Was this true or was he mocking her? She hadn't counted on her heart getting tied up in this foolishness, but now she realized how much depended on his answer.

“My pa saw me at the church building, and he had right stern words for me. He told me that Katie Ellen was his good friend's daughter and I wouldn't lay a hand on her again until I could make a bona fide offer of marriage. Then he spelled out for me how much I'd have to do to be able to support a wife. I'd need property of my own, and most of all I'd need to grow up enough to realize that one didn't take advantage of a young lady as special as Katie Ellen.”

For the first time in her life, Katie Ellen had no idea how to respond. She should be angry . . . furious . . . that he was telling this man about the most tender moment in her life. She should hate him for spinning up excuses for his behavior, but she couldn't help but wonder—what if he was telling the truth?

“Then came the real test,” Josiah said. “Ma got sick, and here came Katie Ellen to spend every day helping out about the house. It was more than I could take, especially with Pa breathing down my neck. I had to make myself scarce or I knew I'd be stepping out of line. But I don't think Katie Ellen understood.”

“Let her speak for herself,” Silas ordered. He pushed back his
long hair to peer at her. “You were put out with him, weren't you?”

She blinked, trying to hold back frustrated tears. This wasn't fair. Throat tight and still sore from the smoke, she finally choked out, “He could have said something at the time.”

Josiah leaned forward, his eyebrows pinched together. If her eyes weren't already smarting, his concerned look would have sprung them. “I could have. . . . I should have, but instead I threw myself into following Pa's advice. I kept my job at Isaac's sale barn and made extra money rounding up cattle for people who didn't have time to drive them into town themselves. Then I took my wages and bought cattle of my own. I've got a nice little . . .” He shot an uncertain look toward Silas. “. . . we've got a nice little herd because of those investments.”

She had to think of something else or she'd be undone. Constructing a new cider press. Yeah, she could plan that while Josiah talked himself blue in the face. Then she wouldn't have to listen to him.

Silas grunted as he checked the end of his knife to see what he'd produced. Then pointing with it he said, “But you ain't told me how you convinced her to marry you. Sounds like she's still sore over it.”

“Katie Ellen has a hard time forgiving.” No plans could've kept her from hearing that. Seeing that he had her attention again, Josiah continued. “Once I started getting my ducks in a row, I thought I'd just announce to Katie Ellen that I was ready to recommence our courting, but she wasn't having none of it. She wanted nothing to do with me.”

“How'd you get around that?” Silas asked.

In a daze, Katie Ellen repeated, “Yeah, how'd you get around that?”

Here, Josiah faltered. “I . . . ah . . .” He took a charred sofa leg and tapped it against the floor. “Some things are meant to be private.”

Oh, were they? Katie Ellen snapped to attention. He'd already done his kiss-and-tell. He wasn't going to stop now.

“You can't leave him in suspense,” she said. “Go on and tell him how you crawled on your knees to my window. How you sang me that song . . . what was it? ‘I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen.' Tell him how you said you couldn't live lessen I married you.”

His face lit up. “Sounds like you want to tell him, so go right on.”

He hadn't planned on spilling his guts like that. No longer could Josiah pretend that these were falsehoods that had been churned up just to save their lives. No, that story was the gospel truth, but did Katie Ellen believe him? Believe
in
him?

Her voice started low. “Josiah begged for my hand. Every evening he stood outside my window and serenaded me on his juice harp.”

He lifted his eyebrow. A juice harp? Not a pretty picture.

She continued. “He made such a nuisance of himself that Pa ran him off. Told him he couldn't court me until he'd made sure that no other gal in the hills wanted him.”

“How'd he go about doing that?” Silas fixed a twinkling eye on him.

“Pa shouldn't have worried.” Katie Ellen was warming up to her story. “Ladies wanted Josiah like a baker wants weevils, but he was willing to do anything Pa asked. Including showing up at the auction wearing his ma's dress and bonnet.” Her chin lifted with a smug smile. Was that a challenge?

“I'd forgotten that part,” Josiah said.

Somehow during their banter, Silas had returned his knife to his boot, but his attention had never waned. “How could you forget that?” he asked. “I bet no one else did.”

“He cut so many capers that season,” Katie Ellen said, “even I'd be hard-pressed to recollect each and every one.”

“What a pity,” Josiah said. “And I so enjoyed reminiscing about happier days.”

Placing his hands on the ground, Silas pushed himself up on his feet. He swayed a bit. Josiah was at his side quicker than lightning, but Silas had steadied himself against the rock fireplace. “Don't mean to complain, Mrs. Huckabee, but your house smells like the inside of a chimney.”

Katie Ellen stood. “I appreciate you not complaining.”

“Well, I only mention it so you'd understand why I need to go outside to get a breath. But first, you'uns do me one favor, won't you? Give her a little kiss, for me. Just so I can feel better about the state of your marriage.”

“No,” Josiah said. “When and where we kiss is our business. Not for you to decide.”

She sighed, leaving Josiah to wonder.

Silas threw his hands into the air. “Then do what you want. Keep in mind, though, you ain't guaranteed tomorrow. Need to share that love while you still can.”

And he teetered out the door.

Josiah kicked a piece of charred wood aside, clearing the floor between them. “I can't do this anymore, Katie Ellen. This play-acting, it's not me. I can't keep hiding the truth.”

“What is the truth?” Unblinking, she took his full measure. “What you told him about your pa, about staying away from me, was that the truth?”

No more falsehoods to hide behind. No more time for preparation. Now was the time to present his case and for her to make her decision. Josiah folded his hands together and prayed that she judged him fairly.

“That was the truest tale ever told,” he said.

Little lines formed on her forehead. She paced to the fireplace and back again. “But you didn't want anything to do with me. At first I tried. I came to help your ma, just hoping to see you, and you ignored me.”

He was shaking his head before she'd finished talking. “I had to stay away for a bit, but since last fall I've been trying. Honest. I offered you a ride home after the sale every week. I brought you a crock of honey—”

“That was for Ma, not me,” she insisted.

“Sweetheart . . .” With every hope riding on her reaction, Josiah reached for her hand. She didn't pull away. “It was for you. All this, my work in town, my building that cabin, my keeping friendly with your folks, all this was for you. Now, I don't think our love will run smooth . . .”

“I moved the rocks where you wanted them.” She smiled as if it were her greatest accomplishment. “You were right. They looked lonely.”

He narrowed his eyes. “What if I move them again? Will you lose sleep over it?”

She scrunched up her mouth. “I know I can be difficult, Josiah—even my parents get fed up with me—but all of that stuff that bothered me so much, none of it is as important to me as you are.”

She stood before him, so perfect, so unguarded, but from now on he'd be her protector. She didn't need to be afraid of surprises catching her unaware. Then a mischievous twinkle appeared in her eye, reminding him that she wasn't ever defenseless.

“But that doesn't mean I won't make suggestions.” She stepped closer. “We still need to work as a team.”

“What do you have in mind?”

The hem of her skirt brushed against his feet. He tried to swallow but found he couldn't. Her eyes, so big and trusting, melted the last remnants of his childhood from him. Never again would he be as careless and reckless. He had someone who depended on him. Someone who made growing up worth the trouble.

She laid her hands on his shoulders. He felt her shiver as he placed his hands around her waist. He chuckled. “It's only me, Katie Ellen. You don't have to be afraid.” But his heart was
racing, too. And when she pulled his head down to hers, his blood roared to life with more force than the lightning storm the night before. With a groan, he dragged her into his arms, leaned her back, and took over the kissing, elated that she'd kicked it off. She stroked his cheek, tugged on his hair, played with his ear, all the while keeping his mouth so busy he didn't know what the rest of him was doing, just that every inch of his hide was burning up with loving her.

“That's what I like to see.”

Josiah knew the voice meant he should stop, but he couldn't quite get all worked up about it. Unfortunately, Katie Ellen was. She pushed against him. He stretched his neck out, trying to stay attached to her lips as long as possible, but finally had to break it off.

“Did you say something?” she mumbled.

How could he say something? She knew good and well how his lips had been employed. But even he had to admit the events of the last few moments were a little fuzzy. “It wasn't me . . . I don't think.”

“It's me.” Silas had returned. “Does me good to see you finally getting along. 'Specially since my time here is done. There's a fellow at the river working on the bridge from the other side. Should have a walkway across soon.”

The bridge? Who cared about the bridge? Josiah was going to kiss Katie Ellen again, no two ways about it.

The bridge? Katie Ellen whirled to face Silas. “Who's at the bridge? My parents?”

“Come on out and see.”

She would, but she was in the midst of a very important
conversation with Josiah. Conversing, that's what they'd call it.

Josiah bent to look out the window. “It's Pa,” he said. “He came looking for me.”

Somehow she'd forgotten about the world on the other side of the river. For the last twenty-four hours nothing had existed beyond Josiah and her . . . oh, and Silas.

“I've got some boards on the bank,” Josiah said. “If the river's dropped beneath the braces, we can hammer the boards back down and at least have a footpath until we can rebuild.”

A footpath. He was leaving her. Josiah held the door open, and once on the porch he handed her her raincoat, but she shrugged and walked past it. Sunlight burned through the scattered holes in the clouds. Soft shadows raced over the muddy mountains as the clouds finally scuttled away. Work waited on them. Hammering rang over the hills and echoed off the cabin as Calbert Huckabee nailed down the first board across the river. Josiah was constant motion, directing Silas to the old boards, running to the barn for hammers and nails, unfastening his boots for wading in the river.

And all Katie Ellen could do was watch.

Every board laid meant that their time together was ending. What would Josiah's pa think about them being together overnight?

Calbert was across in a flash. Not pausing to ask questions, he wrapped Katie Ellen in a bear hug. “I'm so glad to see you safe. Your pa and ma are at the house.” He released her and rubbed her arms like she'd been in a blizzard. “The roads are too muddy to get through with the wagon, so I came up to see how long before it's passable.”

Josiah cleared his throat and motioned Silas forward. “Pa,
this here is Reverend Silas Ruger. He got trapped on the mountain with me and Katie Ellen.”

“He did?” Calbert threw back his head and laughed. “Ain't that something? When you didn't come back, your ma commenced praying up a storm. She was worried you might be up here tormenting Katie Ellen.” Turning to Silas he said, “We're powerful glad you happened along. My son lost his heart to this girl years ago, so we didn't cotton to the idea of them being up there at the house unchaperoned.”

“Unchaperoned?” Silas's eyebrows hiked up taller than a sycamore, and he smiled wide. He seemed to relish the sweat that appeared on Josiah's brow. Katie Ellen ran her hands along her skirt.

“Don't you worry about a thing, Mr. Huckabee. These two behaved themselves so circumspectly that you'd never have suspected that they admired one another. . . . Not until there at the end, anyway.”

“Time to go,” Josiah yelped.

“If my boy offended you, Katie Ellen, you just tell me,” Calbert said. “You know I'll straighten him out quicker than a sadiron.”

She hesitated just long enough to earn a look of warning from Josiah. “He treated me just like I deserve.” His eyes held hers. The dimple had never been more fetching.

“Well, when you'uns decide you need the services of a parson, you be sure and send for me,” Silas said, “and don't make me wait too long.”

Josiah caught her hand in his. It was then that she realized she'd forgotten her gloves, but she enjoyed the warmth and roughness of his hands.

They made their way to the hastily constructed bridge. Cal
bert led the way across, with Silas following. Josiah tarried at the riverbank.

“I feel poorly about not staying to help you clean the place up.”

“Don't worry about it. What's a little mess?”

He smiled. “Good, 'cause I'm in a mighty big hurry to find your pa. We need to have a talk real quick.”

Katie Ellen smiled. “Are we . . . ? Did you . . . ?”

“Propose?” Josiah scratched at his chest. “Not hardly. First there'll need to be a period of carrying-on, in which I'll do my best to humiliate myself credibly. Singing under your window, dressing like my ma, and any other strange activity you've been hankering after.”

The clouds were thinning. Katie Ellen squinted up at him, sun in her eyes. “I'll be waiting,” she said.

He flicked her nose before taking out to the bridge, the swagger in his step more pronounced than ever.

Katie Ellen watched him cross the boards and finally disappear into the thick forest. Josiah Huckabee, her dearly loved friend and dearly unintended beau. So many things had gone wrong, but she'd learned that she couldn't do it all on her own.

Nothing had turned out as she'd intended. . . . And for that she was grateful.

Keep reading for a special sample of
For
the
Record
by Regina Jennings.