Jesse’s fist clenched. “Diamond is not a ‘skirt.’ She’s a brave and resourceful woman.”
“She’s a looker. Hope she’s worth giving up Amy’s inheritance.”
Though generous, Diamond’s dowry was small compared to Amy’s family’s net worth. Money, however, had never been Jesse’s primary motive for marriage. “If the North wins, Amy may not have much of an inheritance.”
“True. That’s why we’ve got skin in the game on both sides.”
Jesse had heard it all a hundred times before and although he understood his father’s position, it left a bad taste in his mouth. But they weren’t the only family to have members fighting on opposite sides. Far from it. The war had not only split the nation. Many families were as deeply divided. “Have you heard from Jack?”
“No, but your brother is a worse correspondent than you are.”
“Do you know where he’s stationed?” Jesse had a horror of facing his brother in the field.
“Last I heard, he was due to ship east.” The two men stopped on the edge of the street and Jesse turned towards the rental house.
“You go ahead,” Ian said. “I’ve got business to do.”
Jesse nodded, although he wondered how much business a government in exile had. Most likely his father was off to grab a drink at the saloon and complain about the war with his fellow exiles.
Glad for his slight reprieve, he strode down the street, eager to return to Diamond. They could go out and explore the town together.
His stride faltered when he turned up the walk to the house and saw Amy waiting in ambush. “Good to see you, Miss Amy.” He tipped his hat. “Have you come to call on my sister?”
“I’ve already seen your sister. Come, walk with me in the garden.”
Jesse had little choice but to offer his arm and lead her through the gate to the small backyard where clumps of tulips were pushing through the earth and unfurling their colorful petals.
“Janet tells me you brought a bride home with you.”
“Yes.” He didn’t want to deal with her hurt feelings.
“Despite the agreement between us?”
“There was no agreement between us, only an attempt by our fathers to broker a political dynasty.” Amy wasn’t as tall as Diamond and her head just brushed his shoulder. She took smaller steps, but even with their slow speed, they soon completed a circle of the garden.
“I refused other suitors while waiting for your offer.”
Jesse tugged at his shirt collar. “I gave you no reason to expect an offer, Amy. I didn’t think you paid our fathers any more heed than I did.” Not entirely true. He had seen how she looked at him, but had never encouraged her.
“My father will be angry and may not support your father in future elections.”
“The Union has evicted our fathers from their own state. There may not be any future elections. I’m a married man, now. My loss is a gain for your other suitors.”
“They are all off fighting this war! It will leave me an old maid.”
“Nonsense, you’re a beautiful young woman. You will have your choice of beaus once this war is over.” Of those who survive, anyway. “My brother, Jack, is still available.”
“Jack? Are you out of your mind? He joined the Union Army. He’s a traitor to our cause.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. He’s the same as he always was. But if it matters to you, pick a Rebel boy.”
“I should have picked Jack. If we had been engaged, my father would never have allowed him to go fight for the North.”
Things might have gone differently if the older men had settled on Jack as Amy’s prospective husband. If Jack had signed with the South, Jesse would have signed with the North. Leaving him on the winning side. But then he might never have met Diamond.
Jesse turned to face Amy, putting a stop to their aimless wandering. “I’m sorry if you’re disappointed, Amy, but I made you no promises. You are free to reconsider any previous offers and all future ones. I urge you to follow your heart.”
“My heart leads me back to you, Jesse. It’s always been you.”
Jesse began to sweat. He’d guessed she had feelings for him, but considered them only a girlish infatuation. “I’m sorry, but you mustn’t say such things. I’m now a married man.”
Her hands clenched into fists and he half expected her to strike him. Almost hoped she would.
Instead, she gave him a sickly sweet smile. “You’re too honorable for your own good, Jesse Weber. Perhaps fate will smile upon us and give us a second chance.”
“Amy—”
“I will pray for your safety.” She flung her arms around him, leaned in on tiptoe and kissed him on the mouth. The scent of roses filled his nostrils and she tasted of sweet tea.
Stunned, Jesse pressed down on her shoulders, easing her away. Before he could speak, she tore herself from his grasp and ran from the garden.
Jesse stood there for a moment until the creeping sensation on the back of his neck told him someone watched him. He turned, already knowing who he would see. Diamond stood at the back door, color in her cheeks and her face as hard as stone.
“Looks like I just missed Amy,” she said. “What a shame. I was looking forward to meeting her.”
Seventeen
Chapter 17
The sight of Jesse embracing another woman drove the air from Diamond’s lungs as if someone had punched her in the stomach. She told herself it didn’t matter. They had a marriage of convenience, one which didn’t involve love and other messy emotions. But it was humiliating for Jesse to care for her so little he would embrace the woman he had almost married in plain view.
“Diamond, it isn’t what you think,” he said, strutting towards her.
“Well, I think you were hugging your ex-girlfriend in the backyard. Are you going to deny what I saw with my own two eyes?”
“You saw Amy
