She watched him head for the rear door of his house, dumbfounded at the sudden awkwardness between them. First, the Texan, and now, the silent treatment.
No, she corrected herself. First, was Michael and her obsession.
Tariana had no right to spoil Jamie’s chances with Angelica. Even her name sounded heavenly. She groaned, quite certain her character ranked far from the angelic range of holiness at which Angelica’s name hinted.
Chapter 10
Jamie hurried to the shed to get the supplies they’d need. The killing would be easy – the numbers seemed to multiply overnight – and the mama rabbits encouraged the new bunnies to come out of hiding to enjoy the sunshine. He figured they could prepare the critter on the spot and cut it in chunks. If he built a small fire and brought the iron skillet, they could fry the outsides crisp to seal in the flavor for the stew they’d make in their separate homes the next day. He’d never been invited to the Gracin House for dinner, leastways alone without his family. It would imply that his and Tariana’s friendship had taken a step in another direction, and that wasn’t likely to happen any time soon. The older they got, the more complex and unpredictable their relationship grew.
Everything had gone wrong at work that afternoon, and the men were green with envy, teasing him mercilessly about a secret rendezvous with Angelica. Jamie enjoyed being the top dog for a change, and he saw no harm to leave them guessing when it came to his evening plans. Now, his excitement mounted. It was Tariana he couldn’t wait to see and not the Texas beauty.
She was a no show at six-thirty. He decided she was probably stuck cleaning the supper dishes. Seven o’clock came and went, and he began to worry that she might have told her parents about their plans, and they’d said no. Jamie hurried to a spot from which he could see her bedroom window. Sure enough, there was a faint light seeping from behind the curtains. He thought about throwing a pebble, but if they’d sent her to her room, she wouldn’t be coming out.
The sun was low in the sky, and disappointment dragged his footsteps as he made his way to the meadow. It only took one shot, and he had a plump rabbit. Jamie started a small fire burning, then cleaned and prepared the animal, slathered it in bacon grease, and set the chunks sizzling in the frying pan. Before long, the meat was seared and ready for the stew pot. He divided the spoils into two lots – he’d drop Tariana’s share off at the house in the morning on his way to work.
When he climbed under the blankets that night, the hunter in him was satisfied, but his manliness was sorrowful, as the evening had not gone as planned.
Jamie rapped on the Gracins’ door at seven a.m. the next morning. He knew they were up for the curtains were open, and he could see chimney smoke from the lit cooking stove.
“Good morning, Jamie,” his pastor said, in the same cordial manner he greeted all of his parishioners. “What can I do for you?”
“I promised to share some of the rabbit with Tariana. She wanted to cook Frances her favorite meal, seeing how the bride’s time at home was coming to an end.”
“Tariana wants to cook for her sister…Frances? Do I hear you right, boy?”
“Yes, sir. She is powerful sorry for her intrusion in the couple’s courting and wants more than anything for Frances to have fond memories when she leaves her childhood home in August.”
“Well, that’s right thoughtful of her,” Reverend Gracin said. “And you, also, for providing the meat. I’ll be sure to tell her you dropped by when she comes down. Meanwhile,” he shook the bag of meat, “I’d better get this to the missus in the kitchen, so she knows her daughter is cooking supper tonight.” Almost as an afterthought he called to Jamie, who had reached the bottom step by then. “Young man, why don’t you come and eat with us? It seems only proper. I’ll invite Michael as well and we’ll have a party.”
He did not sound like a man who had sent his daughter to her room for suggesting an act as brazen as going hunting with the boy next door. “Sounds wonderful, sir, but maybe you should check with Tariana, in case she wanted the special meal as a celebration for just the six of you.”
“Very astute. You’re a quick thinker, lad. I sure do not want to spoil any headway the Good Lord is making between Tariana and Frances. Come to think of it, she was not herself last evening…quiet and moody.” He chortled. “Who can figure out women? Good luck when you find yours.”
The door closed firmly, and Jamie stood there staring. He’d found his woman, and she didn’t want him. Her no-show the night before might indicate that even their life-long friendship was in jeopardy, and that scared him. For once, he could empathize with Tariana’s plight, when she could not have Michael but desperately wanted him. He desperately wanted Tariana to love him but never at the price of losing a friend. He braced himself for the inevitable heartbreak.
Tariana tried to dab some powder on the black rings under her eyes. She’d spent most of the night crying but had found a semblance of peace in prayer in the early hours. Life behind the Abbey’s doors sounded better all the time. She could never compete with the gorgeous Angelica Scinch. Everyone in town was buzzing about the cousin from Texas and Jamie, what a darling couple they made, and how her family’s money would lighten the burden for Jamie if they wed.
If they wed!
How had it gotten to
