Chapter Seven

A Respite by the Lake

What Else Could They Have in Common

When Jake drew the buggy to a halt, Susana pulled in a breath of crisp fall air, taking in the grandeur of the lake and its surroundings.

"Magnificent," she whispered. "The water is so crystal clear and blue."

"Yes, it is," he responded, his voice husky.

She turned in his direction and Jake's gaze held her a willing captive. Propriety told her she should look away. Yet, she couldn't. Not yet.

"Do you come here often?" she murmured.

"Not often enough, and never with someone else. It's my getaway when I'm overworked or have a problem that needs solving."

"Which is it today? Overwork or a problem?"

"Actually, neither for a change. It's just a nice, fall afternoon to be shared with a friend."

"I'm honored that you chose me," she admitted. "And that you consider us friends."

He shifted in his seat, leaning closer to where she sat. Her heart was beating so hard, so fast, she was sure he could hear it.

"Friends are a blessing. What's even better is the possibility of becoming more than friends."

"More?" Her voice squeaked when she spoke. To his credit, Jake didn't laugh at the awkward sound. Although, he did seem to be fighting back a smirk.

When he reached out and laid his fingertips beneath her chin, Susana was sure she was going to faint. When he tilted her head, she held her breath in anticipation.

"If you promise not to slap me, I'd like to kiss you."

"You would… I mean… I'd like…"

"Shh…" he coaxed. "I can't kiss you if you don't stop rambling."

The last thing she remembered before he lowered his head, and his lips touched hers, was that he smelled good… really good. Like fresh air and pine.

His kiss lingered but never crossed the line. She knew, if she backed away, she'd get no resistance. Of course, backing away was out of the question. If anything, she wanted another kiss. Or two.

Jake broke the kiss and set back in his seat, his gaze never leaving hers. He was obviously expecting her to say something. Anything. If only she could clear her thoughts, regain her wits.

"Wow!" Her response drew his chuckle.

"Wow doesn't begin to cover it. That was even better than I imagined it would be."

"You've imagined us kissing?" she asked.

"Haven't you?" he teased. "I've wanted to kiss you since the day we first met. Why do you think I volunteered to stick around and install the shelves?"

"If I'm being honest," she said slowly. "The idea of us kissing had crossed my mind as well."

"And was it all you expected?"

"I gave it a resounding ‘wow', didn't I?"

"I suppose that will have to do, for the time being. It's definitely my signal to turn the buggy around and take you home."

"It is?"

"Yes. Otherwise, I might want even more kisses. I don't fancy meeting the end of your father's gun."

"He hasn't used that thing in years," she confessed. "It's probably too rusty to even fire."

"Good to know, but I'm still taking you home. If not because of your father, then for my own good name as a gentleman. And for my sanity."

"I must admit that our shared kiss did put my sanity in question as well."

He tugged on the reins and the horse cantered to the side, turning them around neatly on the narrow path. "For the record, it was kisses… two of them… and they were quite spectacular."

The ride back took them past the open fields where the last of the lumber had been cut down. "The fields seem so barren without the trees," she commented.

"The men finished clearing away the stumps and loose limbs just this past Friday. We'll replant in the spring."

"Do you replant all your fields?" she wondered.

"We have to, or we'll eventually run out of trees to harvest. We have over twelve-hundred acres. By the time we get to the last fifty, what we've planted over the past two years will be grown and ready to begin the cycle again. If I'm ever lucky enough to have a family, I intend for this to be their legacy."

"It's a beautiful legacy. One you should be extremely proud to share."

"Now all I have to do is find a wife who doesn't mind the smell of pine and freshly cut wood."

She smothered a giggle behind her hand. "That's a pretty tall order, Mister Harkness. Nearly as tall as your trees."

It was nearly four when Jake pulled the buggy to a stop in front of her family home. Jumping down, he circled the back and came to offer his hand.

"I had a great time today, Susana. Thank you for coming with me on my travels."

"It's me who should be thanking you. This entire afternoon has been far more relaxing than any nap I could have taken at home. Would you like to come in for supper?"

He shook his head, the chestnut waves in his hair falling rakishly across his forehead. Susana had the urge to reach out and push them back in place. Her fingertips tingled at the thought of touching him in such a familiar way.

"I'd better be getting home. I'm sure Missus Wilkins has left a plate in the warmer, and I have some book work to take care of before tomorrow."

"I understand. I should probably balance my ledgers as well. Before you go though, I did want to relay a formal invitation to spend Thanksgiving with our family. It's only a week and a half away so, if you already have plans, I'd understand."

"No plans. I'd love to join you and your family for the holiday. Maybe after dinner, if it's not too late, we can take the boys out for that promised Christmas tree."

"They'd love it, I'm sure. As would I."

"Well then, I guess I'll see you on Tuesday," Jake said, backing away slowly. "My men have come to expect their baked goods delivery."

"I'll make apple bread and some cinnamon butter to go with it."

Susana opened the door and stood on the threshold until Jake had driven away. Once inside, she shut the heavy wooden door soundly before removing her cloak, bonnet, and gloves.

"Is that you, Susana?" her father called from the parlor.

"Yes, Papa, it's me." She entered the room and stopped in front of his favorite chair. "You look comfortable. I guess being rid of your children for the day agrees with you."

"It was extremely quiet. I may have dozed off for a bit." He removed his reading glasses and laid them atop his book before asking, "How was your buggy ride?"

"Lovely. The sawmill property is far larger than I imagined. There's a beautiful lake, and acres upon acres of trees."

"I trust Mister Harkness was a perfect gentleman."

She narrowed her gaze, setting her father with a dark stare. "Did you really threaten him with that gosh-awful pistol that your grandfather gave you?"

"I didn't tell him it was an antique dueling pistol, just that I knew how to shoot a gun. Best to keep these young fellows on notice when it comes to my daughter."

"Jake spent nearly eight years in the military. I'm fairly confident your silly little pistol didn't scare him in the least."

"Jake, is it?"

She snickered. "Yes, Jake. And, because I believe in honesty, I feel I should tell you that we kissed."

"So, I guess that means my two tellers, the mercantile owner's son, and half the fellows at the sawmill, are out of luck."

"It would seem so. Although I don't wish to put the cart before the horse."

"Did you remember to invite him to Thanksgiving dinner?"

"Yes, I did. He graciously accepted. He even suggested we take Seth and Will out to chop down a tree, if it's not too dark when we're done eating."

"We should plan to eat early so there'll be plenty of time," her father noted.

"If you'll excuse me, Papa, I'm going to go up to my room and change out of my church clothes. I might even take a short nap before the boys get home. That fresh air wore me out."

"Hmm… the air, was it?"

Susana climbed the stairs to her bedroom, her father's laughter following her all the way to her door.

Once she removed her dress and underpinnings, she donned her dressing gown and stretched out across the bed. She was tired, as she'd said. Plus, she needed to think about what had transpired between her and Jake. Were a couple of shared kisses enough to take her off the market, so to speak? Or was he just testing the waters of their compatibility?

Snake River Sawmill

Monday Morning Inventory

Jake pushed aside the ledgers he'd been ignoring while thinking about Susana and those incredible kisses. He raised his head to receive his foreman's report.

"It looks like everything's here, as it has been for the past couple months," Del pointed out. "I guess our light-handed crew member got tired of sneaking stuff out in his lunch pail."

"About that," Jake began. "I'm pretty sure I've figured out who took the saw blades and splitters."

"Really? Who?"

"Remember the kid we had cleaning up over the summer?"

"Ricky Barnes? You think that little half pint was the culprit?

"According to the Prescott boys, Ricky's got himself a side business chopping and splitting wood for those in town who are unable to do for themselves."

"Good for him… I mean… that doesn't excuse his stealing."

"It doesn't, but I'm not going to do anything about it. He's providing a service, and he has a family to help feed since his pa died in that rail accident a few years back."

"It's not an easy decision," Del pointed out. "He needs to be discouraged from doing this again at other jobs, but there are also circumstances."

"I intend to have a word with him, maybe before church on Sunday. I'll give him a chance to fess up, maybe suggest he talk to the reverend."

"That's it?" Del asked. "That's all you're going to do?"

Shrugging, Jake admitted, "I'll probably offer him a job when he's done with his schooling."

Del laid the report on the desk and spun around on his booted heel. "Darned softie, that's what you are, Jake Harkness. No wonder that nice bakery lady likes you."

"And here I thought it was my dashing good looks and winning personality."

"Don't go getting so full of yourself you can't fit through the office door," Del warned.

"Thanks, Del. I'll keep that in mind."