Chapter Three
SUMMER FROWNED. FORCEDto stand and watch Jesse place a kiss on Rosie’s cheek before helping her up into the family’s buckboard, Summer bunched her hands into fists. He turned to her, fidgeted as if wondering where to put his hands, then nearly squeezed the loving life out of her before plunking her bottom on the seat next to Rosie. A pain shot through her shoulder, and she grimaced. She glared at him as he climbed aboard.
“So, what did Doc say?” he asked as he slapped the reins. The horses took off toward the outskirts of town.
Summer sat up straight, smoothing the wrinkles on her dress. “It surprised the doctor that a woman of my delicate nature could have accomplished such a feat. Under the circumstances, he thinks my shoulder and head look pretty darn good.”
“Delicate nature?” Jesse huffed under his breath.
Rosie nudged him. “Doc Gill bandaged Summer’s shoulder and gave her some ointment for his wound.”
He glanced down at Rosie, a smile tugging on his lips.
Summer boiled, watching the affectionate glances they exchanged. If it was the last thing she ever did, she would put a stop to this marriage. Anyone with half a brain could see they were a disastrous match. Why it looked as if Jesse couldn’t stand to even touch her sister the way he sat so rigid on the seat.
As they passed through town, Summer noticed a number of new businesses: a hotel, butcher shop, barber shop, drug store, law office, several other stores, a newspaper office, and newly built saloons. The town had even refurbished the boardwalks and hitching posts. A lot had changed. Not to mention the man she loved to hate. He looked more robust than she wanted, and as hard as she tried, she couldn’t stop remembering the feel of his hard body as he cuddled her on his lap before she knew who he was.
She kept her eyes straight ahead and ignored her sister and Jesse, but now she had a moment to think, she found it strange that her mother and father hadn’t come to greet her. After all, the house was just at the edge of town.
Jesse and Rosie remained conspicuously quiet during the ride. Rosie’s forehead furrowed in thought, and Jesse whistled an irritating tune off-key that drove Summer insane.
“Why didn’t Ma and Pa come to get me?” she asked.
Rosie’s head snapped toward Jesse, giving him an apprehensive look. He stopped whistling.
Something was very wrong.
“All right, you two,” she grumbled. “Why are you acting so strangely?”
Rosie sighed. “Summer, we need to prepare you for something before we reach home.”
“Prepare me for what?”
“It’s Pa.” Rosie’s voice shook.
Summer’s heart clenched. “What’s wrong with him?”
“Six months ago, Pa came down with some kind of malady that made him very sick. The doctor doesn’t know what it is. Pa has lost so much weight, and he doesn’t have his strength any longer.” Tears gathered in Rosie’s eyes. “You won’t recognize him.”
Summer breathed slower, trying to maintain the panic welling up inside her chest. “Why didn’t anyone tell me before now?”
Rosie shook her head. “I’m sorry. I know this is a shock, but there was nothing you could do so far away. We didn’t want to worry you needlessly.”
Summer took hold of her sister’s hands. “Needlessly? But I could have come home sooner and helped at the livery.”
Rosie lowered her head.
“Summer,” Jesse said, “your ma didn’t want us to say anythin’. She knew you didn’t have much time left at school.”
“But who is helping at the livery?” Summer’s chest tightened.
Rosie patted Jesse’s arm. “Jesse and his brother help out when they can, and of course, Ma and I do our best to assist him, as well.”
Summer’s throat constricted. Had she returned just in time to see Pa die? And what would happen to her mother? Then again, with Rosie and Jesse getting hitched and she would marry her mail-order groom, at least one of the sisters would take care of their mother.
“Well, I suppose I’ll tell you now before we get home.” She swallowed hard, staring into her sister’s wide, questioning eyes. “I’m coming home to get married.”
