grin. He found his lips spreading and returning the smile. For a brief moment he wished he was Miles Thatcher and that they were two people in love, returning to their home in Cottonwood Springs. She faced forward once more and the spell was broken.
Jackson shook his head to clear it. It was only a dream. He had faced the truth a long time ago; no woman would ever love him.
His own mother despised him, mainly because he was a reminder that his father had deserted them. If his own mother didn’t love him, then Jackson felt sure no woman could.
They topped the hill, and he found himself looking down on the town below. Eliza gasped beside him. He turned to see shock on her face. His gaze followed hers.
A recent fire had claimed one of the businesses in the valley below. Smoke still drifted up into the air from the ruins. He turned to look at Eliza again. Tears rolled down her pale cheeks, and he knew without being told that the burned building was her dress shop.
Jackson stopped the team and tied the reins down. He reached across and pulled Eliza into his arms. Her tears wet his shoulder as they fell like rain. He looked at the town below and wondered what she would do now.
As if to confirm his thoughts, she cried, “Oh, Mr. Hart, what am I going to do?” She sniffled and then pulled a frilly white handkerchief from her sleeve. In defeat Eliza rested her head on his chest once more. A huge sigh lifted her shoulders, and then her body went still.
He knew with the words he was about to utter that he’d open a part of himself that he’d managed to protect for a long time. “I don’t know what you’ll do, but if you need me, I’m here. You are not alone.” Jackson had felt that sense of hopelessness all his life and could not stand to let Eliza endure it alone.
She straightened away from him and looked deeply into his eyes. Eliza took a deep breath and slowly let it out. She nodded and tried to offer him a wobbly smile. He studied every expression that crossed her features. Right now insecurity and fear fought with determination and acceptance.
“Thank you. I guess we should go down and see what happened.” She scooted over and twisted forward on the seat.
Jackson knew at that moment he would keep his promise to Seth. He would protect and care for Eliza for as long as she’d allow him to. By his own vow, he’d be there for her for as long as she needed him.
* * *
Eliza’s emotions were all over the place. She felt shocked that her home and business had burned to the ground, scared because she had no idea what she’d do now and confused as to why God would allow this to happen.
“Where do you want to go first? Home or to the store?”
Jackson asked as he guided the wagon down the hill.
She tried to control the shake in her voice. “The store was my home.” The pungent scent of burnt wood filled her nostrils and coated her tongue.
He nodded as if she’d told him where to go. The strong jaw she’d admired moments before was clenched, and his hands gripped the reins so tight that his knuckles were turning white.
What must he be thinking? Surely he didn’t think she’d want him to take her in. Jackson had said he’d be there for her, but surely he didn’t expect her to take him up on the kind offer.
Eliza would have laughed at the thought if her situation weren’t so bleak. When the wagon came to a stop in front of her store, she rose to get down.
For a big man, Jackson was fast. Before she could climb from the wagon, he stood beside it, waiting to help her down. He placed both big hands around her waist and lowered her to the ground.
He held her for just a moment longer than necessary and looked deeply into her eyes. Did he see the fear? The helplessness she felt?
“This too shall pass,” Jackson reminded her before releasing her and stepping away. A fresh tear slid unbidden down her cheek.
“Oh, Eliza! I am so sorry.”
Eliza turned to see Rebecca Billings hurrying to her. Her friend grabbed her and hugged her close. “We tried to save it, but, well, it was late last night and...” Her words drifted away on the afternoon breeze much like Eliza’s hope for ever having another shop.
“I’m sorry,” Rebecca offered again. She released her hold on Eliza and stepped back.
Others began gathering about them and presented their condolences, as well. Her gaze searched the crowd for Millie Hamilton. The girl was nowhere in sight. Fear and sorrow warred within her as Eliza continued to search the girl out.
“Rebecca, is Millie all right? Did she get out in time?” Eliza heard the panic in her voice begin to rise. She sent up a silent prayer. Lord, please don’t let her be hurt or worse. It would all be her fault.
Rebecca rubbed Eliza’s shoulder in a gesture of comfort. “Calm yourself, Eliza. Millie is fine. She wasn’t here when the fire started.”
Eliza exhaled and silently thanked the Lord. She would never have forgiven herself if something had happened to the seventeen-year-old girl.
Dan Tucker, the blacksmith, and his wife, Sally, stepped forward. Sally gathered Eliza’s hands in her own. The woman’s warm palms felt comforting. “Eliza, Dan and I talked about it last night and we have decided that you should use our house while yours is being replaced. We’re leaving in a couple of days to visit my parents until the baby comes. I don’t like the thought of our house standing empty. So, if that would be all right with you, we sure would be grateful.” She squeezed Eliza’s hands before releasing them and moving back to her husband’s side.
Eliza felt a sob begin to choke her at the Tuckers’ kindness. She swallowed the lump. “Thank you. I appreciate the offer.” Tears clouded her vision.
From the corner of her eye, Eliza watched as a short man in a brown suit stepped away from the growing crowd of people steadily pouring from storefronts and homes. She was surprised when he called her name. “Eliza Kelly?”
She nodded, wondering who he could be and how he knew her. Eliza rubbed the tears from her eyes so she could see him more clearly.
He walked up to her with a big grin that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I’m Miles Thatcher.” He swept a dark brown derby-type hat with short red feathers sticking out of the band on the side off his head, revealing light brown, thinning hair.
Inwardly Eliza groaned. Her mail-order groom was the last complication she needed right now. She didn’t know what to say, and even if she did, Eliza knew she didn’t want to say anything in front of her friends and neighbors.
“I realize you’ve had quite a shock, but I’ve been waiting for you and I don’t plan on waiting any longer.” He stepped even closer. “Since we are to be wed, I would like to discuss a few matters with you.”
What he planned to do Eliza had no idea, but she felt Jackson move up to stand next to her. She welcomed his presence much like a freezing man welcomed a fur-lined coat.
His baritone voice stopped Miles Thatcher. “I’m afraid your business with Mrs. Kelly will have to wait, Mr. Thatcher.” Jackson crossed his arms over his wide chest as if daring the other man to press the issue.
She
