“I’ll continue to wait and dream until you find justice for your mother. I only met her a few times and thought she was one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. I understand why you have to do this, and I won’t plead for you to stay. But when you do stop by each month, set aside one day for me.”
He nodded before he said, “I’ll assign at least two days to spend with my fiancée. I want to make up for all those days we didn’t get to talk.”
She smiled as she said, “I’ll look forward to each of them, Jake. Now that I’ve made my case and won my prize, I’ll let you return to the Elk to begin your preparations. But before you leave, can I ask one favor?”
Jake assumed that she was about to ask him to kiss her to seal their strange engagement. No other woman he knew would have dared to ask the question, especially in the middle of the day while sitting in such a public place.
Sara disappointed him when she asked, “Will you write to me as often as you can? I won’t be able to reply, but I’d like to know where you are.”
Jake felt a bit foolish as he answered, “Of course, I will. You’re still living with your parents and brothers; aren’t you?”
“Until you marry me and take me wherever you call home. Your father could return and take the ranch back, you know.”
Jake nodded as he said, “I’m going to see my father’s lawyer on Monday to ask him about that. Your address is #26 Fourth Street; isn’t it?”
“It is,” then she smiled slightly as she asked, “You thought I was going to ask you to kiss me; didn’t you?”
“I’m not ashamed to admit that it crossed my mind. You may be the only woman in the territory that would have the nerve to ask to be kissed in the middle of the day while sitting on a boardwalk with all that street traffic.”
She laughed then said, “I almost did, but I think we can wait until you return in August and we’re not so exposed. You’d better leave, or I’ll forget about waiting and seduce you right now and offend the entire town.”
Jake was sure that she was joking, but he did have to leave. But even her humorous suggestion gave him pause about his decision to leave town. It was only a fleeting thought, but he suspected that Sara was the only person who could get him to change his mind. He was very grateful that she was also the only person who hadn’t tried to convince him to stay.
He rose then said, “I’m very happy that you saw me leaving the bank, Sara. I hope that when I return, I won’t have to leave again.”
Sara remained seated as she looked up at him and said, “I hope so, too. Maybe we can talk some more on Monday after you visit the lawyer. I’ll be in the store if you can spare the time.”
“I’ll make the time, Sara. I’ll plan on taking you to lunch at Finney’s. Okay?”
“That would be nice.”
Jake was smiling as he looked down at her for a few seconds before he turned and trotted across the street.
Sara watched him mount his big red horse and waved when he looked back. After he waved back, he rode away at a medium trot. She continued to watch Jake until he was out of sight. While she was very pleased with her decision to tell him how she felt and even happier with his response, what he’d told her about Kay disturbed her.
For the two years that Jake had been visiting Kay, Sara thought that her sister was as smitten with him as she was. But she was just a slim girl and Kay was not only older but was already fully mature and well endowed. Sara could understand why any red-blooded male would be attracted to Kay. And her sister’s flirty, coy behavior only added to her alluring presence. But when Jake told her about how Kay had reacted to his suggestion of elopement, it had opened her eyes. Now, Kay’s seven-month pregnancy added a whole new dimension to her sister’s character.
She knew that Jake hadn’t reached that level of intimacy with her sister. While Kay no longer confided in her, she did express her frustration at Jake’s ‘gentlemanly inhibitions’. At the time, Sara was amused at her sister’s irritation, but was also proud of Jake for his honorable behavior. She now believed that Kay was trying to seduce Jake. If that had happened, Sara was convinced that Jake would immediately ask her to marry him. Kay wouldn’t even need to use the threat of pregnancy.
Then Jake ruined her sister’s plans when he said he was leaving and wanted to elope. Sara had been disgusted with Kay when Jake had told her that she’d asked him about the size of his bank balance. If Jake had asked her fifteen-year-old sister, Sara wouldn’t have cared if he was penniless.
Jake was probably still enroute to his first assignment as a soldier when Kay had shifted her attentions to Homer James. Homer had admired her openly for years, and once Jake left town, Homer was at the door asking to see her. Unlike Jake, Homer had probably eagerly succumbed to even the slightest suggestion of intimacy. She assumed that it was only when Kay told him that she was carrying their child that he proposed.
When Kay announced their engagement, Sara was surprised and thought that her sister had made a terrible second choice and was determined to not give Jake another option when he returned. But even then, Sara didn’t have a clue just how manipulative Kay had become. Now her sister was paying the penalty for that mistake but
