“What is it, dear?” Pa asked.
Summer licked her dry lips. “I am going to marry Adam Fairbanks.”
“What?” Ma’s voice lifted, and her eyes widened.
Pa frowned. “But he never asked me for your hand in marriage.”
So, maybe she should have worded it differently. It was too late now, but she could fix it. “While staying with Aunt Lydia, I answered an ad in a newspaper for a man searching for a mail-order bride. The reason I answered it was because he lived here and that I would live by my family.”
“Mail-order bride?” Pa’s voice heightened, making him cough. He shook his head and scowled. “Summer Bennett, you can catch a man’s eye without having to—”
“Father.” Summer lifted her chin stubbornly. “You cannot talk me out of it. Mr. Fairbanks has money, and he’ll be able to help our family out with the livery, and he’ll also help take care of you.”
“But Summer,” Ma said in a softer voice. “We had hoped that you would love the man you marry.”
“I’m sure I will eventually. I wrote to Mr. Fairbanks a few times, and I’ve met him once since coming home. He seems like a sweet man, and I think he’ll treat me well.”
Pa rubbed his forehead as his frown deepened. “I wish you would have asked me first.”
She shrugged. “I didn’t want to worry you. But soon, both of your daughters will be married, and you won’t have to worry about us any longer.”
Ma’s laugh wasn’t in humor and almost had a forlorn tone to it. “Oh, my dear Summer. You’ll never know until you have children of your own that parents will always worry.”
Summer nodded. “I’m sure I’ll discover that after I have children. But for now, I pray you and Pa will welcome him into the family like you have Jesse Slade.”
Pa sighed heavily. “When do we get to meet this man?”
“I’ll reach out to him today.” Summer smiled, feeling more relieved now.
“Just let us know.” Ma patted Summer’s arm before standing. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get supper started.”
The evening meal passed quickly and without much conversation. Ma stared at her plate while eating, and Rosie appeared as if her mind was elsewhere. Pa was in his room resting. Since nobody wanted to chat, Summer finished her food quickly. Soon, everyone went their separate ways, and Summer wasn’t sure how to keep herself entertained for the remainder of the evening.
She wandered outside and strolled around the house. When an idea took root in her mind of what she could do, she grinned. More than likely, Rosie felt overwhelmed by the preparation for the wedding, which was why she didn’t have time to decorate the cabin so Summer would make Rosie some curtains for her new home. Although her talents were not fully developed in that area, she’d still try.
Sneaking quietly, Summer tiptoed into Ma’s sewing room and found the measuring string, then hurried to the barn. She saddled a horse and grabbed a lantern before riding to the cabin. As she approached the small house, she couldn’t help but feel admiration for Cal’s labors. The inside of the cabin was as pretty as she remembered, but as she stepped into the kitchen, the bare walls echoed her feelings of loneliness.
After lighting the lantern, she slowly walked through each room and examined it as a new bride would. Envy pierced through her harder than it had before. She couldn’t understand Rosie’s restraint for not wanting to be here every second of the day. If this were Summer’s house, she’d spend all her time decorating.
She set the lantern down in the hallway and peeked into the bedroom. Her aunt had told her a little about what happens between a husband and wife, and suddenly Summer’s interest was aroused. Stepping into the empty bedroom, she imagined where she’d place her bed if this were her home.
When she thought about some of the things dear Auntie had described for the wedding night, Summer blushed. At the time, it had seemed very shocking, but the more she pondered on the newfound information, she could actually envision being intimate with the man she loved.
She remained motionless as she closed her eyes, creating the scene in her mind. She would stand in the bedroom, just as she was doing now, and her husband would come to her and slowly take her in his arms and kiss her passionately. Shivers of delight pumped through her heart and tickled her tummy from the mere idea.
When the man in her dreams became clearer, and she could see his face, her eyes flew open, and she hitched a breath. The man in her mind wasn’t Mr. Fairbanks but that scoundrel Jesse Slade. Why?Of all people, why did it have to be him?Dare she admit he had been on her mind quite a bit since she rode into town perched on his lap?
“Jesse,” she sighed heavily in surrender.
“Yes?”
His deep voice startled her, and she jumped and turned toward the doorway. Her body still screamed with the sensations from her dream, and her mind grew numb. Jesse stood with his shoulder propped against the doorframe, his hands folded across his chest. He wore an expression that told her he knew exactly what she’d been thinking.
“What do you want, Summer?”
Her hand covered her pounding heart. “I, uh, I–” She swallowed hard. “You frightened me nearly to death. What are you doing here?”
“I should ask you the same thing.”
