Jade. Ruth Langan

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       Chapter Four

      “Reverend Weston, look what Agnes made for you.” Lavinia Thurlong had a death grip on her daughter’s arm, shoving her forward until she was standing directly in front of the handsome minister.

      “It’s a blackberry pie.” Agnes blushed and giggled as their fingers brushed.

      “Thank you, Agnes. That’s very kind of you.” Wade gave her a gentle smile and set the pie on the windowsill of Durfee’s Mercantile. Once a week he held services in the back room. The people came from miles around to hear his ringing sermons.

      Out of the corner of his eye he saw Jade step down from her carriage, flanked by her three sisters. He fought to cover his surprise.

      “Agnes is the best pie baker in Hanging Tree.” At the moment it wasn’t her daughter’s baking skills that interested Lavinia. The only thing she had on her mind was snagging an eligible bachelor for eighteen-year-old Agnes.

      Agnes was a pretty little thing, with a headful of dark curls, big brown eyes and a dimple in each cheek. The trouble was, all the cowboys for miles around were sniffing after her. And none of them was what her mother considered proper husband material.

      Now, Reverend Wade Weston, on the other hand, was handsome enough to make even Lavinia’s heart flutter. And every mother knew that a man of God would make an excellent husband. After all, the town minister and his family always had a place to sleep and food on the table. Not like farmers, who had to scratch a living from the soil. Or cowboys, who were always off chasing a dream, or another herd of mustangs. And from Reverend Weston’s sermons he was known to be kind, considerate, thoughtful. In short, every mother’s dream.

      “I guess she takes after you, Lavinia,” Wade said, keeping his smile carefully in place as Jade trailed her sisters up the steps.

      Lavinia blushed nearly as much as her daughter. With matching smiles the two women filed into the room and took their places alongside their neighbors.

      “Morning, Wade.” Diamond greeted him affectionately.

      “Good morning, Diamond.” He accepted her handshake. “Where’s Adam?”

      “Out with the herd on the north range.”

      “Send him my best.” He turned to Pearl, who was lowering her parasol. “I see Cal didn’t join you.”

      “He and the boys are with Adam. This time of year there’s just too much to do out on the range.”

      “I understand.” He smiled at Ruby, who was adjusting her shawl to hide her revealing neckline. “I’m happy to see you, Ruby.”

      “You would have seen a whole lot more of me if Diamond hadn’t reminded me to cover up.” She knotted the ends of the shawl and tossed them carelessly over her shoulder before sauntering inside the mercantile. “Wouldn’t want to create a scandal,” she muttered.

      The eyes of every man in the room riveted on her as she followed her sisters up the aisle to a row of vacant seats.

      Wade was still chuckling when he turned to Jade with his hand outstretched. “Good morning.” He kept his tone deliberately bland, though he felt suddenly too warm.

      This day she was wearing a gown of pale blue silk, with mandarin collar and black frog fasteners. Her long hair had been twisted into an elegant knot on top of her head, with little tendrils slipping loose to kiss her cheeks and the nape of her neck.

      “I’m glad you came with your sisters. I was afraid you might begin to avoid Sunday services.”

      “And miss hearing you warn the good people of Hanging Tree about the evil woman in their midst?”

      He nearly laughed at the sparks that shot from her eyes. She was daring him to rile the congregation. And he was a man who had always loved a challenge. But he wasn’t here to cause trouble. He would rather prevent it whenever possible.

      She shot a look at the steaming pie. “An admirer, Reverend?”

      “It’s Wade,” he said with a wicked smile. “And the pie is from Agnes Thurlong.”

      Jade returned his smile with a sugary one of her own. “A fine choice. Agnes is shy and sweet. She’d never give anyone a moment of trouble.”

      Unspoken laughter warmed his voice. “I see you came to town prepared to goad me into a fight.”

      Jade lifted her chin a fraction. “I came today because Diamond suggested that Sunday assembly would afford me an opportunity to face Lavinia and the others who have begun a whispering campaign against me.”

      Wade wanted to tell her they weren’t whispers. They had grown loud. And ugly.

      “I’ll warn you again, Miss Jewel. Tread carefully. Even neighbors can become a dangerous mob, given the right set of circumstances.”

      He saw the way her eyes narrowed, and realized his warning had fallen on deaf ears.

      “I also came today to thank my guardian angel.”

      If СКАЧАТЬ