Read Online Sixty Acres and a Bride by Regina Jennings - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Regina Jennings
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He stepped back and held her at arm’s length. “Did you have a growth spurt or something? Take a new tonic?”
Before Weston could figure out what he was talking about, Eliza hushed him. “Jake England! Keep your thoughts to yourself, please. I’ll tell you about it when we get home.”
“Tell me what?” He dropped her arm and fixed her with a penetrating stare. “Don’t make me wait. I ain’t a patient man.”
“Let’s go, Jake.” She picked up her satchel and held it out to Weston, who dutifully placed it in the buggy, but Jake didn’t move. He perused her slowly with a more critical eye.
“Good gravy!” she exclaimed. “You aren’t going to be satisfied until you publicly embarrass me, are you?”
Jake pushed his hat back for a better view. “Come to think of it, you’re looking a little thicker all around. Now, either you found some grub that you really cottoned to, or . . .” He finally met her eyes.
“Or?”
Jake squinted. “You ain’t joshin’ me, are you?”
Weston choked on air and started coughing. He’d expected news when Eliza returned, but not of this nature. Sometimes it was good to be wrong.
“I might be teasing. You’ll just have to wait until September to see if I’m telling the truth or not.”
“September?” Jake counted back on his fingers as a silly grin spread across his face. “You were with me in December, right?”
Grimacing at Jake’s rowdy “yee-haws,” Weston made his way to the growing pile of luggage to give them all the privacy available at a train station—privacy that Jake didn’t need, obviously. Weston hoisted the trunk onto his shoulder. It was their mother’s old trunk, the brass studs aged and rubbed shiny once again.
How he wished his parents could have lived to see their first grandchild. It was hard to believe this baby would never know Davy and Dorothea Garner. Now he’d be playing the role of both uncle and grandparents. Of course, Mary and George would do their part, too.
By the time Weston had the buggy loaded, he had already decided what type of pony the child would ride.
As they reached the road home, the dread he’d been carrying returned. Eliza’s joyful news wouldn’t spare him from the painful memories her trip would dredge up. He was ready to get it over with, but Eliza hadn’t broached the subject. She was still filling her husband in on the news of their new young’un.
“I feel strong for the most part. My stomach gets sour if I don’t eat enough—or if I eat too much—or if I smell something foul—but I feel healthy in between times.” She shrugged. “I’ve found the best thing to do is to keep food nearby.”
“You knew before you left, didn’t you?” Jake accused.
“I hid it as long as I could, but you were bound to figure it out sooner or later.”
“And then I wouldn’t let you go?”
“Would you?”
“We better change the subject,” Jake huffed, “before I get riled. So the trip wasn’t too hard?”
Eliza paused, her forehead creased. “It was tiring physically, but I have a fondness for St. Louis. After spending two years at the Academy, I have many memories there. I enjoyed visiting my former classmates and had an extended stay with Aunt Clarice, who I understand sings as well as Mother did.” She looked at Weston. “I wish you’d been there to tell me if it was so.”
Weston lifted his chin. He wasn’t proud of his decision to send her alone, but it was too late to change it now. “Sisters often favor each other.”
Eliza strummed her fingers on Jake’s leg. “Well, you’re not going to rest easy until I tell you about Cora’s parents, so let’s take the bitter pill first. Seeing them was more painful than I’d expected. They’re still torn up over her death. Naturally they would be. I can’t imagine how they must feel. . . .” She instinctively covered her child, as if to protect it from the dangers of the world. “They weren’t prepared to see
Before Weston could figure out what he was talking about, Eliza hushed him. “Jake England! Keep your thoughts to yourself, please. I’ll tell you about it when we get home.”
“Tell me what?” He dropped her arm and fixed her with a penetrating stare. “Don’t make me wait. I ain’t a patient man.”
“Let’s go, Jake.” She picked up her satchel and held it out to Weston, who dutifully placed it in the buggy, but Jake didn’t move. He perused her slowly with a more critical eye.
“Good gravy!” she exclaimed. “You aren’t going to be satisfied until you publicly embarrass me, are you?”
Jake pushed his hat back for a better view. “Come to think of it, you’re looking a little thicker all around. Now, either you found some grub that you really cottoned to, or . . .” He finally met her eyes.
“Or?”
Jake squinted. “You ain’t joshin’ me, are you?”
Weston choked on air and started coughing. He’d expected news when Eliza returned, but not of this nature. Sometimes it was good to be wrong.
“I might be teasing. You’ll just have to wait until September to see if I’m telling the truth or not.”
“September?” Jake counted back on his fingers as a silly grin spread across his face. “You were with me in December, right?”
Grimacing at Jake’s rowdy “yee-haws,” Weston made his way to the growing pile of luggage to give them all the privacy available at a train station—privacy that Jake didn’t need, obviously. Weston hoisted the trunk onto his shoulder. It was their mother’s old trunk, the brass studs aged and rubbed shiny once again.
How he wished his parents could have lived to see their first grandchild. It was hard to believe this baby would never know Davy and Dorothea Garner. Now he’d be playing the role of both uncle and grandparents. Of course, Mary and George would do their part, too.
By the time Weston had the buggy loaded, he had already decided what type of pony the child would ride.
As they reached the road home, the dread he’d been carrying returned. Eliza’s joyful news wouldn’t spare him from the painful memories her trip would dredge up. He was ready to get it over with, but Eliza hadn’t broached the subject. She was still filling her husband in on the news of their new young’un.
“I feel strong for the most part. My stomach gets sour if I don’t eat enough—or if I eat too much—or if I smell something foul—but I feel healthy in between times.” She shrugged. “I’ve found the best thing to do is to keep food nearby.”
“You knew before you left, didn’t you?” Jake accused.
“I hid it as long as I could, but you were bound to figure it out sooner or later.”
“And then I wouldn’t let you go?”
“Would you?”
“We better change the subject,” Jake huffed, “before I get riled. So the trip wasn’t too hard?”
Eliza paused, her forehead creased. “It was tiring physically, but I have a fondness for St. Louis. After spending two years at the Academy, I have many memories there. I enjoyed visiting my former classmates and had an extended stay with Aunt Clarice, who I understand sings as well as Mother did.” She looked at Weston. “I wish you’d been there to tell me if it was so.”
Weston lifted his chin. He wasn’t proud of his decision to send her alone, but it was too late to change it now. “Sisters often favor each other.”
Eliza strummed her fingers on Jake’s leg. “Well, you’re not going to rest easy until I tell you about Cora’s parents, so let’s take the bitter pill first. Seeing them was more painful than I’d expected. They’re still torn up over her death. Naturally they would be. I can’t imagine how they must feel. . . .” She instinctively covered her child, as if to protect it from the dangers of the world. “They weren’t prepared to see
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