Page 17 of Val (Wild Rose Ridge #1)

Chapter Sixteen

By the time Sunday rolled around, Val had just about had it with the Busy Bees.

She and Micah had spent every spare moment chaperoning the couples and going over the list of men he’d presented to her days ago.

She sat in church wondering if she’d have enough brides come springtime.

Eager to make the return journey to Wild Rose Ridge, she was trying to learn as much about the town as she could in the meantime.

But would talking up Wild Rose Ridge to a prospective bride be enough? She wished she could bring back photographs. As far as she knew, the town didn’t have a photographer. Then again, she hadn’t asked.

She and the rest of the brides sat through service, and it was all Val could do to keep her eyes off Micah.

Commanding in the pulpit, he seemed a different man, one she admired more than she cared to admit.

Add to that her attraction to him, and it was getting harder to fight.

Her feelings kept surfacing, and every time she tried to pat them down, they came back stronger.

She wasn’t sure she could last until the Merry Jo returned.

Maybe spending so much time with him wasn’t wise.

Good grief, and she’d only been in Wild Rose Ridge a little over a week.

What was to become of her the rest of her stay?

And what about after the other four brides were married?

They would start their lives here while she sat around twiddling her thumbs another two weeks.

She supposed she could attend another sewing circle or two, but good grief, she barely survived the one she’d already endured. The Busy Bees were maddening!

Micah’s voice rose, pulling her attention back.

She looked up and smiled, unable to help it.

He was getting under her skin, and she didn’t know what to do about it.

His protectiveness of the town was admirable.

His gentleness and intelligence, attractive.

But what did he think of her? That was a question she didn’t want answered.

Maybe he had been flirting these last several days.

Or was he just dropping hints that he was ready for a wife but didn’t know how to ask her about finding one?

“Val!” someone said, making her jump. She sucked in a breath and turned to Cornelia.

“What is it?” she whispered.

“Are you okay?” Cornelia asked.

“Yes, why?”

“You just had a funny look on your face, that’s all. You’re not ill, are you?”

Val closed her eyes a moment as a scripture came to mind. Hope deferred makes the heart sick…

“I’m fine,” she said after a pause. Cornelia seemed satisfied and faced the pulpit again.

When the church service ended, Val lingered behind, hoping to speak with Micah, though about what she didn’t know. She just wanted to talk to him here; his voice directed at her instead of a congregation.

When the church thinned out, and those speaking with him drifted away, he finally crossed the front of the sanctuary to her, smiling. “Val, how are you?”

She gave him a shy smile. Good grief, she was acting like a giddy schoolgirl! “I’m fine, thank you. I, um, I wanted to tell you that was a good sermon.”

“Why, thank you.” He glanced around as the last of the congregation departed. “Are you hungry? Would you like to join me for lunch?”

Her heart skipped a beat. “Oh, well, I suppose I could. I don’t think any of the ladies need me immediately.”

“Were you chaperoning anyone?”

“No, they’re all fine for now.” She swallowed hard. Maybe somebody needed to chaperone her. Get a grip, Valentine! she scolded herself silently.

He smiled and offered his arm. She took it, and together they left the church to a few wide-eyed onlookers outside. They headed for the small lane leading to the main road.

“Things are coming along nicely, don’t you think?” he said.

“Yes, they are.” She smiled again and looked away, cheeks hot. This was bad, very bad. What was she going to do when it came time to leave? She didn’t want to pine after the preacher once she was back in Chicago. She had to stop this now. Problem was, she didn’t want to.

She shook her head in dismay, wishing for once the sisters’ voices would pop into her head and tell her to stay far away from the preacher. Naturally, they were silent.

They passed the hotel and headed down the street to Betty’s Café.

Once inside, they sat and fell into conversation, trying to ignore Betty’s looks of jealousy.

At least she was sweet about it, but that was the least of Val’s worries.

It was the fact Micah was giving her a reason to be jealous in the first place.

“Is something wrong?” he asked.

Val bent her gaze and shook her head. Good grief, she couldn’t even talk in front of him. She swallowed hard and forced a smile. “I’m fine, really. You’re the second person to ask me that today.”

He smiled. “Is that what you and Cornelia were whispering about while I was preaching?”

Her head snapped up. “What? You saw?”

“Of course I did.”

He rearranged his silverware. Was he nervous? Why was she? There was no reason to be, for crying out loud. She’d spent days with the preacher. What made today different?

“I’m looking forward to the Christmas dance. Aren’t you?” he asked.

“Oh yes, the dance. I’d forgotten about that.”

“You threatened to get involved with it, remember?” he reminded her.

She laughed. “Oh yes, that’s right, I did, didn’t I? Well, then I started chaperoning more, and that took up most of my time.”

“It’s what you’re here for,” he pointed out.

“Yes, that’s true. But I can’t be everywhere at once. And I have to thank you for doing your part to help.”

“It’s been my pleasure, Val. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.” He gave her a warm smile, then looked down at the table. “I know some of the ladies in town have been working on the decorations. Nothing fancy. Pine boughs and ribbons, paper snowflakes, that sort of thing. Have you volunteered yet?”

She smiled and nodded as her cheeks heated again. Good grief, what must he think of her? Maybe he assumed she was catching cold as red as her face was getting. She could feign a fever, maybe. Yes, that might work. She’d have to go lie down and wouldn’t see him the rest of the day.

“Val? Are you all right?”

Ah, it was working already. She gave him an innocent look, but before she could say a word, Betty returned with their meals, beef stew and biscuits. She set everything on the table with a laugh.

Micah said a blessing over the food, then eyed her before picking up his spoon. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

Val nodded, though her stomach filled with an unfamiliar feeling, a cross between dread and elation.

He was attracted to her. But why did that fill her with dread?

He was doing his own version of flirting, wasn’t he?

That was certain. She tried to eat, though the war within her still raged over the man sitting across from her.

If she caught him flirting again, should she tell him to stop?

Say it was improper? Remind him she was leaving?

Good grief, he knew that. So why would he?

“I’ve been thinking,” he said, breaking into her thoughts.

“About what?” she asked, taking a bite of food. Maybe if she kept eating, she wouldn’t have to answer. She began eating fast, then realized she’d need to make her meal last. If there was something she didn’t want to say, or more to the point, shouldn’t say, she could always take another bite.

He watched her a moment, then poked at his stew. “Bringing brides here next summer. If, for some reason, you were no longer at The Sisters’ Mail-Order Bride Company, could it still be done?”

Her eyes widened. “Why on earth would I not be with them?”

“I don’t know.” He shook his head. “Perhaps you found another job, or moved away, or… well, any number of things could happen. Maybe the sisters need you.”

She rolled her eyes. “Those three will always need a keeper.” Val laughed, though it was a nervous laugh, and she hoped he didn’t notice.

He smiled at her, then continued to poke at his stew with his spoon. “Anyway, what do you think? If the town wanted to do more business with the sisters, and you weren’t there, or couldn’t get away, would someone else be able to escort the brides?”

Val heaved a sigh and sat back in her chair. “I suppose we could hire someone, if we don’t already have another employee by then.”

“What if I came to Chicago and got them?”

She stared, her jaw going slack. “You would come to Chicago?”

“If that’s what I had to do.”

He looked into her eyes, and she couldn’t read his expression. Was that hope she saw, or something else?

“Well, I suppose it would work,” she said. “But I wouldn’t want to see you make such a trip. It’s rather long, there and back.”

“I am willing to make it, Val. I’m willing to do a lot of things to make this work.”

Somehow, she got the feeling he was talking about something else, but she brushed it aside. “Very well, I’ll see what I can do. And when the time comes, we’ll work things out.”

He looked at her for a moment, then gave a slow nod. He started eating again, and something inside her fractured. Val didn’t know what it was. Good grief, was her heart breaking? And why would it? She barely knew the man.

You know him better than you think, she heard Margaret say.

Oh yes, Valentine, Augusta’s voice followed. You see in him all the qualities you love and hope for your brides to find.

You know it’s true, Josie sang.

Val bit her lower lip, trying to ignore them. Now those blasted sister’s voices show up. Thankfully, she and Micah were silent as they finished their meals, and so were her three keepers of her conscious.

Micah ordered them dessert, and while they waited for pie, he simply gazed at her.

It was unnerving in a way, thrilling in another.

His look said, I admire you. I think you are beautiful and worthy.

Her heart squeezed at the thought. Was she worthy?

No one had ever desired her before, and she didn’t know what to do with it.

When their pie and coffee arrived, she dug in quickly to avoid his gaze.

She caught herself staring back anyway and wondered what he saw in her eyes.

Good grief, this is ridiculous, she told herself and hoped she hadn’t said it aloud.

But as he didn’t react, she must have only thought it.

Sometimes it was hard to tell her thoughts and words apart with the sisters’ voices always in her head.

What would it be like to have him show up in Chicago?

What would Augusta, Margaret, and Josie do if they were to find a handsome preacher on their doorstep?

Heaven help her, they’d never let her live it down!

They’d badger her his entire stay, telling her to go back to Wild Rose Ridge with him.

But then would they want to lose her? Who would take her place?

She shook her head in annoyance, then realized he was watching her.

“Is everything okay over there?” he asked gently, with a hint of amusement.

“Oh, aye,” she said, letting her Irish brogue slip through. “Everything’s fine, Preacher Sutton.”

The amusement in his eyes vanished. “Something’s wrong. What is it?”

She shook her head. “It’s not anything to be concerned with. I’m fine.” She took another bite of pie and hoped he’d drop it.

He studied her a moment, sipped his coffee, then went back to eating. Thank goodness. She wasn’t sure how to handle him. Maybe if she buried herself in work, helping with the Christmas dance, chaperoning to keep the Busy Bees at bay, she’d stay occupied.

Her mind made up, she finished her coffee, folded her hands in her lap, and took a deep breath.

Micah watched her, then smiled. “You look as if you’re bracing yourself for a conversation with Mrs. Schulte.”

She returned his smile. “I feel like it, but this is something else. There are some things I have to do, that’s all. I’m sorry if I’ve been rude or distant during our meal.”

“No, you’re fine, Val,” he said. “But I am concerned about you. I’ve not seen you this way. You’re quiet, and that’s not like you.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Can’t a person be quiet once in a while?”

“Of course, but it’s not like you. You’re like a ship sailing in a straight line through any kind of weather, any storm, and you always come out the other side. But now…” His gaze softened. “Now you seem to be drifting.”

Her gaze met his. He was right. She was drifting.