Chapter 43: Courting Western

~From the days when it was always summer in Eden, to these days when it is mostly winter in fallen latitudes, the world of a man has invariably gone one way…the way of the love of a woman~—Charles Dickens

The next day found Dannie and Sophie in the Hopewing mercantile. Sophie was browsing through the ribbons and bonnets, with Dannie standing beside her. She was supposedly there to lend advice, but in reality Dannie was far, far away, lost in a world where Cupid ruled as king, and lovers resided in houses built of clouds.

At first, Sophie didn’t realize just how distant Dannie was, but when it dawned on her that Dannie nodded and said “yes, yes” to just about every question, the young blonde became rather upset.

“Dannie, are you here to help me or not?” she asked angrily. “I need an honest opinion. Which do you think is better, the blue or the green?”

“The green,” Dannie said absently, thinking of pale green eyes and the cowboy they belonged to.

“Are you sure? Look, the blue matches my eyes. Perhaps we can buy some of the blue material to make a new dress to go with the ribbons.”

“Do what you think is best, Sophie.” Dannie was getting tired of the endless questions; they were distracting her from more pleasant thoughts.

“If I knew what was best, do you think I would be asking you?” Sophie burst out, her patience wearing thin. “What is the matter with you, Danielle Preston? Why won’t you help me?”

Before Dannie had a chance to answer, the door to the mercantile opened, and Jake and Sam walked in. Dannie caught her breath and looked down, a shy, happy smile playing on her lips.

Of course, she had hoped that Jake would pop by the store as well, but hadn’t known if he would actually bother. He was, after all, trying to keep a low profile.

Jake lost no time in making his way over to where Dannie and Sophie were standing.

“My, you’re up early.” He directed his words at Sophie. “I was sure the sleepin’ beauty would still be asleep after all the dancin’ she did last night. Honestly, Sophie, your stamina amazes me.”

Sophie rolled her eyes and turned back to the ribbons. Dannie giggled softly, and forced her eyes to look up into his. This was the Jake she had always known, clad in old, faded clothes, his hair dusty and sticking out all over the place.

“Howdy, ladies.” Sam tipped his hat to the girls. “We keep bumpin’ into each other. It is a strange game of fate, to be sure.” He winked at Jake, who laughed quietly.

“What are you doing here?” Dannie asked, directing the question to both men, but looking at Jake.

“Stockin’ up on supplies,” Sam replied. “We’ll be headin’ back to the Cora Belle when we are done.”

“So soon?” Dannie frowned. Jake was leaving today? How unfair was that?

“There ain’t nothing else for us to do here,” Sam replied. “Though I’m sure Jake could think of a reason or two if he tried hard enough.”

The color rushed to Jake’s face, and he glared at Sam, who winked at him in return.

“Not like it would matter to Dannie,” Sophie retorted, “if you stayed till the second coming or not. Starting next week, she’ll be busy in school again and have too much work on her hands to bother with rude some cowboys like you.”

“I don’t think rude some is a word,” schoolteacher Dannie had to point out.

Before Sophie could come up with a witty comeback, the bell at the door sounded as Cal Jennson walked in. Noticing Dannie, he walked straight up to her. Jake eyed the man with a jealous gaze, ready to strike him should the need present itself.

“Good morning, Miss Preston, Miss Martin.” Cal tipped his hat to the two ladies. “Miss Preston, I meant to ask you this last night, but quite forgot. Did Mr. Martin pass on the letter from Mr. Richardson?”

Jake inhaled deeply. Apart from being competition himself, this guy had to bring in competition from back East as well.

“Yes, he did,” Dannie said politely, acutely aware of the murder in Jake’s eyes. “I was very perplexed to find out it came to you.”

“No, no, it didn’t come to us. Mr. Martin must have understood wrong. I was at the post office, and Mr. Henshaw said there was a letter for you, but Mr. Martin had already left—so I offered to take it to him. I hope it was nothing of great consequence.”

The look in Cal’s eyes told Jake that he was as wary of Mr. Richardson from New York as Jake had been.

“It was of no consequence at all.”

“I see.” Cal nodded his head. “I was rather disappointed when I was not able to purchase your basket, Miss Preston, but I was even more surprised when it was Jake here who actually won the bidding. I didn’t think you were the kind who would buy a basket.”

“Yeah, well, I like surprisin’ people,” Jake snapped.

“I’ll say,” Cal mumbled under his breath. He returned Jake’s glare and focused his attention back on Dannie. “Are you here to purchase ribbons, Miss Preston?”

“Not me. I don’t need hair ribbons, Sophie does.”

“She’s here to help me out,” Sophie once again explained. “And I would appreciate it if you would all leave her alone, because I can’t make up my mind, and you’re all distractin’ her.”

“My apologies,” Cal said, smiling. “But I fear when Miss Preston is around, it is very hard to leave her alone.”

Dannie gave a tense smile, wondering how best to handle the situation.

Jake decided to just take matters into his hands. He leaned closer to Cal. “Calvin Jennson, you can stop being sweet on Miss Preston right about now.”

Cal turned to face him, his eyes filled with contempt. “And you are?”

“I’m the guy tellin’ you to lay off!”

Cal suppressed his laugh, not wanting to attract attention. “Jake, just because you were lucky enough to buy up Miss Preston’s basket and dance with her once or twice doesn’t mean you can go about telling me what I should or should not do when around her.”

“Don’t tempt me, mister.” Jake’s voice grew severe. “Keep your distance from her or I’ll give you what for.”

Cal gave a small shake of his head and let out a low laugh in Jake’s face. “Listen, until I see a ring on that little finger of hers, I will keep as close to her as I darn well please. You may like Miss Preston, but many of us do, and for now, you don’t hold any more claim on her than I do.”

“Oh, I don’t, don’t I?”

“Not at all!”

Things were taking a dangerous turn. Sophie’s eyes sparkled as she wondered who would be the first to deliver the blow. Dannie didn’t find it quite as entertaining.

“Is everything all right, gentlemen?” she asked in a worried voice.

“Everything is fine, Miss Preston,” Cal reassured her. “Just a little misunderstanding, but I am sure we can sort it out, can we not, Jake? Sort it out like gentlemen, instead of common brutes?”

Cal’s voice was challenging, and it lit a fire in Jake’s eyes.

“Oh, you want to sort it out?” He clenched both fists. “We can sort it out all right, sort it out old school.”

“Old school?” Cal lifted his eyebrow.

“Yup.” Jake leaned closer to Cal, the muscles on his arms tensing. “Just you, me, and four fists between us.”

“Step outside then if you please.”

Dannie couldn’t believe what was happening. “Stop it, the two of you!” she commanded, placing herself in between them. “Your behavior is very juvenile! There is no need to fight over me.”

“Then perhaps you could settle the quarrel between us,” Cal offered. “I am sure you know what it is we are fighting over.”

Dannie cringed as both Cal and Jake looked earnestly at her. Why were they putting her through this? Well, if they were going to be blunt and indiscreet, then so was she.

“Mr. Jennson, I’m afraid that in this matter Jake is the preferred person. I hope I never led you on in the past. If I did, I shall feel remorseful indeed.”

Smug victory was written all over Jake as he straightened out his shoulders and looked down on Cal. The defeated young man set his lips in a firm line. “You never led me on, Miss Preston,” he said in a reserved voice. “You always behaved like a perfect lady.”

Dannie hated the look in his eyes. She knew what it was like to be rejected and wished she didn’t have to put him through this. The fact that Jake was determined to rub this defeat in made it even worse. Perhaps it would be best if Jake and Cal weren’t together in the same place.

“Jake, I must go to the post office. Will you be so kind as to walk me?”

Jake’s already very broad smile broadened even more. He nodded and stepped aside, allowing Dannie to walk first. With a superior smirk at Cal, Jake followed Dannie.

Just as he made his first step, Cal stuck his foot out, causing Jake to stumble and fall over. Dannie’s hand flew to her mouth to try and keep the giggles in. Sophie laughed loudly at Jake’s unceremonious descent to the floor. Mr. Farrington and Sam turned from their conversation and chuckled.

“As the sayin’ goes, pride comes before a fall, ain’t that right, Jake ol’ boy?” Sam joked, his eyes twinkling at Cal. Jake quickly picked himself off the floor, his face burning with anger and humiliation.

Without a moment’s hesitation, he turned around and swung his fist into Cal’s stomach. Poor Cal bent over, gasping for breath.

“Jake!” Dannie exclaimed, quite horrified over what had just happened. Hadn’t she just told the two of them not to fight over her?

Jake didn’t unclench his fist. He just stood waiting for Cal to stand up straight again. The store had gotten quiet after Jake’s display of violence, and Sam decided to break things up before they got out of hand.

“Jake, I think you can turn around an’ escort Miz Preston right on to the post office,” he ordered. “No point in leavin’ the poor lady waitin’ while you an’ Cal disrupt the peace. Come on, off with you before Mr. Farrington kicks you out!”

Jake gave Cal one last glare before following Dannie out of the store.

“How could you!” Dannie reprimanded once they got outside.

“He tripped me first,” Jake protested. “It’s a matter of pride.”

“But to start fighting,” Dannie persisted.

Jake laughed. “Can you honestly tell me that women are any better? If two girls like the same boy, they won’t fight each other for him?”

“Not in the brutish way you men like to. Women will pretend to be nice to each other while secretly trying to kill their rival in the dark.”

Jake shook his head. “At times, I feel like a woman can be more lethal than a man.”