Jewel

  Jewel couldn’t believe he wanted her to talk. The space between her thighs was on fire and there was a wanton rhythm infecting her hips that she couldn’t seem to control. “It belonged to Noah,” she finally managed to whisper, “He’d outgrown it.”

  Taking a moment, he undid the tiny buttons running down the front and then pushed the halves aside. “No more wearing your brother’s underwear, Jewel Grayson….” And to make certain she remembered he lowered his head and gave the dark-tipped twins such a sultry tongue lashing her hips rose in sultry response. “You hear me?” he whispered hotly. He reprimanded her for a few wanton moments more, then raised his mouth to her ear. “Say ‘Yes, Eli,’” he commanded in a voice brimming with both passion and humor.

  She played along. “Yes, Eli.”

  On the wind came the sound of horses galloping on the road behind them. A dazzled and panicked Jewel hastily did up the buttons of her shirt and tried to leave his lap but he kept her there. “We’re married, remember?” he told her with a smile. “You’re fine right where you are. I promised that nothing we do together is going to be embarrassing after the first time. Consider this one of those things.”

  Jewel supposed she could look at it that way although she’d expected such moments to apply only in the bedroom. She also reminded herself that if people were to believe that she and Eli had been secretly married for some time, being seen out here sparking in the dark would go a long way in support of the ruse. Nonetheless, she was embarrassed knowing whoever was coming would find her seated on his lap, but in reality she was still reeling from his expert loving and that overrode all.

  When the two riders got close enough, she and Eli recognized James Wilson, the Grove’s mill operator. He was also the man Adam Crowley had nearly come to blows with over his disparaging remarks abut Jewel and Eli. He and her father butted heads often.

  On the horse beside him was his son Creighton, the only man in the Grove who’d ever courted her.

  The elder Wilson pulled back on the reins. “Evening, Eli. Jewel.” He scanned them slowly. “Nice night.”

  “Yes, it is,” Eli responded easily. “How are you Jim? Creighton? Creighton, are you home for a visit?”

  Creighton nodded a response but everyone could see that his eyes were focused solely on Jewel. “Back home for good,” he said. “The job in Detroit didn’t work out. How are you, Jewel?”

  “Doing fine, Cray. You?”

  “Kinda sad when I heard you and Eli were married, but I’ll survive.”

  Jewel’s lips tightened ruefully. One of the reasons their strong-willed fathers didn’t get along was because James was convinced that Adam had run Creighton off because he didn’t want Creighton courting his only daughter. In reality, Creighton had been so scared of her father he couldn’t talk. At the time, she’d regretted that he’d stopped coming around, but now that she’d been with Eli, she was convinced that had she married the quiet, steady Creighton she would have been insane inside of a week. “I’m sure you’ll find someone, too.”

  He nodded, lips terse.

  James pulled on his horse’s reins and grumbled, “We’ll leave you two in peace.”

  “Have a good evening,” Eli replied coolly. Wilson was a competent manager and the Grayson family had no complaints about the way he ran the mill, but on a personal level, Eli didn’t like the man. Wilson exuded an arrogant smugness that rubbed him the wrong way.

  The Wilsons rode off leaving Jewel and Eli alone in the night once again. Jewel cracked, “I’m sure he’ll be telling anybody who’ll listen what he saw first thing in the morning.”

  “He saw my wife sitting on my lap and that’s all. Any embellishment and he’ll wish he had stuck to the truth.”

  “Then we’ll sic Pa on what’s left of his body.”

  Eli agreed, but he had a question. “Did you know Creighton was sweet on you?”

  She nodded. “I did. He came to the house a few times, but nothing ever came of it.”

  Not even the shadows had been able to mask the yearning in Creighton’s eyes. “When was this?”

  “A couple of summers back. You were gone most of that summer trying to drum up advertisers for the Gazette.”

  “Ah.” In his search for supporters he’d traveled all over the state and then down to northern Indiana and over to Chicago. Even though he’d traveled for weeks, it turned out to be a fruitless venture. “Why’d he stop coming around?”

  “Pa scared him so badly, all he could do was shake—couldn’t even talk. The boys thought it was the funniest thing they’d ever seen, but were decent enough to hold the laughs until he left the house.”

  “I can’t see you married to him. Too tame.”

  “I thought the same thing.”

  “Have I spoiled you?”

  “I believe you have.”

  “Good.”

  For a moment they stared at each other, then he kissed her softly. After a few passion-filled minutes, he reluctantly broke the seal of their lips. “Let’s get you home.”

  Jewel didn’t want to leave his lap or his kisses, but whispered, “Okay.”

  When they reached the house, he pulled back on the reins to halt the horse. “Here you are.”

  “Thanks.” An uncharacteristic shyness took hold. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “And the next day and the next, and the next.”

  “Sleep well, Eli.”

  “You, too, Jewel Grayson.”

  Her nipples tightened. Ignoring the shameless reaction as best she could, she hopped down and started up the dark walk. When she reached the porch, she turned and gave him a wave. She disappeared inside and the pleased Eli drove away.

  Eli was still in bed the next morning when a stout rapping on his front door pulled him awake. Hoping whoever it was would go away, he rolled over intending to return to his dream where he’d been making love to Jewel, but the noise grew louder. Cursing, he yelled, “Give me a minute, will you?”

  He grabbed his robe and stumbled to the door. Snatching it open, he barked, “What?”

  Abigail sniffed. “You used to be such a polite son.”

  Chagrined he opened the screen so she could enter. “Sorry. Come on in. What brings you out at such an ungodly hour.”

  “It’s nearly seven. I assumed you’d be up by now.” She looked around at his cluttered front room and shook her head. “Is there furniture under all these papers?”

  The place was filled with newspapers and sheets of the writing paper he used to pen his editorials. Even though the Gazette was closed he continued to compose editorials and letters to the editors of papers across the country. “I think so.”

  He removed a large pile from one of his old chairs and she took a seat then set the cane against the arm.

  He scratched his head sleepily and sat on his small worn sofa.

  “What I came to discuss won’t take but a moment. Here.” She handed him a set of papers tied with twine.

  “What is this?”

  “Open them.”

  He did as instructed and discovered a sheaf of bank documents. He looked over at her curiously. Some had his name across the top of them. “Mother?”

  “Your inheritance.”

  His confusion deepened. He mentally shook off the cobwebs of sleep. “What inheritance?”

  “The one I’ve been keeping from you.”

  Stilled, he studied her. “Why?”

  She didn’t respond, but the set of her face and the love hiding behind her stern eyes gave him the answer. “You didn’t trust me to have it.”

  “No, I didn’t.”

  “I haven’t touched a drop in years, Mother.”

  “I know, but I needed to be sure.”

  He scanned the papers silently, wondering if he should be angry or grateful. “This is quite a sum.”

  “It’s your portion of the rents, profits from the businesses, and what the family has earned from various investments, including the ones I asked Viveca’s mother, Francesc
a, to make on our behalf in California. And you are correct, it is quite a sum.”

  Eli looked up from the documents. “I could have used this when the Gazette went under.”

  “I know,” was all she said.

  “Yet you didn’t offer it then?”

  “No.”

  “May I ask why?”

  She didn’t hesitate. “Because if and when I have grandchildren I wanted them to be able to eat something besides news print, and drink something besides ink.”

  “In other words, you thought I’d sink it all in the newspaper.”

  “Yes.” Then she added, “Your paper is very important to us, Eli, and I want it to thrive just as much as you, but yes, you would have sunk all of your money into it, leaving you to struggle to support any family you might have had in the future.”

  “And if I hadn’t married Jewel?”

  “I would have turned it over to you at this point anyway because of the way you’ve handled yourself since the paper folded.”

  “You were waiting to see if the disappointment would make me start drinking again?”

  “Yes.”

  He sat back and met her level gaze. Another force of nature, he thought to himself. “I’m trying to decide if I’m angry.”

  “That’s fair.”

  “I am grateful, though, so thank you.”

  “You can curse me after I leave.”

  He smiled for the first time. “Never that.”

  “Don’t lie.” She stood, leaning on her cane.

  The grin spread across his face. He stood too and placed a kiss on her cheek. No matter how he felt about her decisions, one thing would never change. “I love you.”

  “But I love you more.”

  As he walked her to the door, she asked, “What are you planning today?”

  “I’m probably going to drive down to Niles and see if I can find Jewel a wedding ring now that I have some funds.” In reality he had more than some. The investments by the doc’s mother alone had netted thousands. “Maybe I’ll see if she wants to go with me.”

  “Excellent idea. She works much too hard. She needs a holiday.”

  “I agree.”

  Abigail’s eyes held his. “I’ll understand if you’re angry at me for what I’ve done, but try and look at it from where I stand. I did it for you.”

  He nodded. Considering all the shame and heartache he’d caused her, he knew that he had no right to be angry at her for anything, ever.

  “Have a good time in Niles, and remember the reception is tomorrow. Everyone is expecting you two to be there.”

  “We won’t disappoint you.”

  She stepped down from the porch and called back over her shoulder, “And don’t let Jewel tell you she can’t go because she has to help with the reception. Her only role is to show up.”

  “Good to know.” He watched her reach her buggy and get in. After she drove off he closed the door.

  Taking a seat he studied the documents again and was outdone by the numbers they held. He could pay off all of his creditors and still have enough remaining to start his life with Jewel on a solid financial foundation. He still wished his mother had offered him at least a portion of the funds to deal with the Gazette’s fall. The thirty-two-year-old man inside wasn’t happy knowing she’d treated him as if she were doling out the allowance of a twelve-year-old. However, the son inside him understood, and not knowing how to balance the two opposing views, he decided to simply let it go. He was no longer poor as a church mouse living on the scraps he called his savings, and for that he was grateful.

  Leaving his seat, he set the bank papers aside and returned to his room to dress and start his day. He wanted to ride over to the Crowley’s and find Jewel before she headed off somewhere to play in the dirt.

  And that was exactly what she was doing when he walked up. Dressed in her signature denims, an old shirt that had probably belonged to one of her brothers, and wearing a pair of well-worn brogans on her feet, she was kneeling in one of her vegetable gardens pulling weeds. She was placing them in a short barrel beside her. Since there were only a few weeds in the bottom of it, he assumed she hadn’t been at the task very long.

  She looked up and gave him a smile that filled his heart with sunlight. “Morning.”

  “Morning.”

  They grinned at each other for a few long moments remembering last night’s pleasure-filled drive under the moonlight, then she stood and clapped her grimy gloved hands together to get rid of some of the soil clinging to them. “So where are you off to all dressed up.” He had on his brown Sunday suit, a high-collared shirt and tie.

  “We’re going to Niles.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “We?”

  “Yep. We’ll be back this evening.”

  “And the reason we are going to Niles?”

  “To get you a wedding ring.”

  She stared, frozen.

  He enjoyed making her speechless. “So hurry and get dressed so we can go.”

  “But I have chores. I have…”

  He folded his arms.

  Seeing that, her argument trailed off and a twinge of guilt rose. “This is what you were talking about last night, wasn’t it? Me being too busy to let my hair down.”

  “You said it, not me. The weeds aren’t going anywhere.”

  “But they’ll be larger.”

  “If you don’t want a ring just say so.”

  “But I do,” she said more earnestly than she’d intended. A ring—for her? It was yet another one of those things she’d never imagined in her life. “I just—” then she stopped. “Okay. I’ll go. Write this down, Mr. Editor. I am eschewing weeds to take a trip to Niles. I am turning my back on the large number of chores I had planned today in favor of fun.”

  “Duly noted.”

  Jewel was pleased. “I won’t be long.” She started toward the house.

  “Jewel?”

  She stopped and turned back. “Yes?”

  The happiness in her face made his heart swell. “Thank you.”

  She nodded and hurried off to get ready.

  The ride to Niles took a little over an hour and the closer they got to the city limits the wider the roads became and the more people they passed. Niles wasn’t a large place by any means, but it was large enough to have a train station, which made it a metropolis when compared to the Grove.

  Jewel had to admit she was enjoying herself. For the first few miles she’d bemoaned all the chores she’d left behind, but then put them out of her mind. As Eli noted, the work wasn’t going anywhere, so she decided not to fret anymore and to just relish the freedom of the journey and his company.

  As they drove down Main Street, passing stores and businesses, she saw people of many races on the walks and driving down the street. “Where are we going first?”

  “Jeweler friend of mine named Jake Adler.”

  She didn’t know Mr. Adler or how to deal with the idea that they were here after a wedding ring. The wearing of a ring to show a woman’s married status had become popular after the war. Now it was all but expected, but again, she’d never thought she’d be wearing one.

  Eli turned down a side street then stopped the buggy in front of a small storefront with a sign above the door that read, Adler’s Fine Jewels and Stones. He came around to help her down, then escorted her inside.

  The indoor electric lights that were all the rage back east hadn’t made their way to the small towns of the Midwest, so the store’s interior was shadowy and dim like most stores its size, but the light from the smile of the thin-boned man who walked out from behind the counter upon their entrance could have lit up the entire town.

  “Eli!”

  “Afternoon, Jake. How are you?”

  The two men shared a handshake of greeting then Adler looked down at Jewel. “And this is?” he asked.

  “My wife. Jewel.”

  “Beautiful name for a beautiful woman. Honored to meet you. Welcome to my establishment, Mrs. Gra
yson.”

  “Thanks. A pleasure to meet you as well.”

  Jake turned to Eli. “Please tell me you’re here to get her something.”

  “I am, and to give you something.” Eli reached into the inside pocket of his suit coat and pulled out the bank draft he’d written that morning.

  Jake took it, scanned it, then studied Eli. “What is this?”

  “What I owe you.” Jake had been one of the friends who’d lent Eli money when the Gazette’s finances began to spiral out of control, and he was pleased to be able to repay the debt. “I’m on solid ground now, so thank you.”

  “You sure?”

  “Positive.”

  And when Jake seemed satisfied, Eli said, “Now. Jewel needs a ring.”

  For such a small shop, there was a wide selection of styles; some too elaborate for Jewel’s liking, and some just right. Picking up one of the latter, she tried it on and looked at the beauty and simplicity of the gold band on her finger. “This one.”

  “Sure you don’t want something more showy?”

  “I’m sure. It’s simple and plain, like me.”

  Eli didn’t think her simple or plain at all. To him she was as fine as the rarest stone, but he knew what she meant, so he didn’t argue with her choice.

  Adler went to write up the sale, and when Jewel began to remove the ring, Eli gently stopped her with his hand on hers. “You can keep it on if you like.”

  “You sure. I thought I should wait until tomorrow.”

  “If you want to wear it now, be my guest. It is yours.”

  She held out her hand to survey the ring on her finger, and the smile on her face made his heart skip a beat. “Thanks, Eli.”

  Raising herself up on her toes, she gave him a soft kiss on the cheek. “It’s beautiful.”