she couldn’t stop. She’d hoped to hear such sweet things. Hearing it now was fine with her. It was worth the wait.
“I’ve fallen in love with you, Jewel. Deeply and completely. I didn’t know I could ever feel this way. I’d hoped to marry someone who could tolerate me and I’d never even thought about how I might feel for them. You have melted my heart.”
She lunged for him and threw her arms around his neck. She didn’t care one bit that her actions might be considered improper. Basically, her whole life had been at least a little improper, so this was nothing in the scheme of all that.
James kissed her then. It was the most tender kiss she could ever imagine. She no longer regretted following her dreams to Laramie, Wyoming.
Chapter 17
To the horror of James’ assistant, the pair spent almost the whole day out gazing at the mountains and the sky. The schedule for the work day was completely forgotten. It was late afternoon by the time James brought the horse to a halt in front of the hotel, and Jewel hopped down.
“Ah, there’s our lovely couple now.”
Mr. Pendleton was standing in the doorway, glowering at them. Jewel was shocked by the snide tone of his voice. She thought he’d been put in his place already.
“You’re certainly suited to each other.” Pendleton said. “Word is that you’re not quite all you’re cracked up to be, little lady. Far from it.”
James looked from Pendleton to Jewel in confusion. A small crowd was gathering, as seemed to happen whenever Pendleton and Harland crossed paths, eager to see if anyone was going to start shouting. Jewel crossed her arms.
“If you’re talking about the notion that I’m some kind of rich woman from the city, I never said any such thing. You concocted that story all on your own,” she said.
“Yes, the truth has made it’s way to me. I’m surprised you’d go for someone like her, Harland. I would have thought you’d go for someone who could bring a little something to the table.” Pendleton gave Jewel a dirty look, to her indignation and James’ quiet fury. “Well, you’re welcome to her. She’s just not my type.”
“You’re right.” James said coldly. “She’s far too principled to put up with the likes of you.”
A few people in the crowd chuckled, and Pendleton snorted.
“I will kindly allow you the continued use of my hotel accommodations, as the lady is surely far too principled to stay at your house while unwed.”
James scowled at him, jumping from the buggy and roughly gesturing to the hotel boy to hold the horse.
“You’ve allowed her nothing, Pendleton. Every night she’s spent in your establishment has been paid for and you know it. Your services will not be necessary. Jewel, I think it’s time we go to the church. Don’t you?”
Now it was James’ turn to receive Jewel’s shocked stare.
“What? You mean right now?”
“Is that a problem?” James stared at her, his usual gruff self. To the surprise of everyone gathered around, Jewel smiled and shook her head.
“No, dear. It’s not a problem at all. It actually sounds like fun.”
Mr. Pendleton sputtered as Jewel and James walked past him into the hotel. When they reached her room, they discovered that Maria had run ahead of them and already started packing, and within ten minutes Jewel’s few possessions were back in her trunk.
Though most of the onlookers were awaiting their return, Mr. Pendleton had vanished. To Jewel’s surprise, people clapped when they emerged from the hotel.
“Heaven help us all. James Harland is getting married. The end of creation is upon us!” someone shouted from the back of the crowd. James treated them all to a vile glare, prompting more laughter.
“Hell’s frozen over, alright.” another man said, shaking his head. “You better soften him up, ma’am, for your own sake.”
“Don’t you worry about that. I can handle him,” Jewel said with a smile.
James gave the hotel boy a big tip to take
“I’ve fallen in love with you, Jewel. Deeply and completely. I didn’t know I could ever feel this way. I’d hoped to marry someone who could tolerate me and I’d never even thought about how I might feel for them. You have melted my heart.”
She lunged for him and threw her arms around his neck. She didn’t care one bit that her actions might be considered improper. Basically, her whole life had been at least a little improper, so this was nothing in the scheme of all that.
James kissed her then. It was the most tender kiss she could ever imagine. She no longer regretted following her dreams to Laramie, Wyoming.
Chapter 17
To the horror of James’ assistant, the pair spent almost the whole day out gazing at the mountains and the sky. The schedule for the work day was completely forgotten. It was late afternoon by the time James brought the horse to a halt in front of the hotel, and Jewel hopped down.
“Ah, there’s our lovely couple now.”
Mr. Pendleton was standing in the doorway, glowering at them. Jewel was shocked by the snide tone of his voice. She thought he’d been put in his place already.
“You’re certainly suited to each other.” Pendleton said. “Word is that you’re not quite all you’re cracked up to be, little lady. Far from it.”
James looked from Pendleton to Jewel in confusion. A small crowd was gathering, as seemed to happen whenever Pendleton and Harland crossed paths, eager to see if anyone was going to start shouting. Jewel crossed her arms.
“If you’re talking about the notion that I’m some kind of rich woman from the city, I never said any such thing. You concocted that story all on your own,” she said.
“Yes, the truth has made it’s way to me. I’m surprised you’d go for someone like her, Harland. I would have thought you’d go for someone who could bring a little something to the table.” Pendleton gave Jewel a dirty look, to her indignation and James’ quiet fury. “Well, you’re welcome to her. She’s just not my type.”
“You’re right.” James said coldly. “She’s far too principled to put up with the likes of you.”
A few people in the crowd chuckled, and Pendleton snorted.
“I will kindly allow you the continued use of my hotel accommodations, as the lady is surely far too principled to stay at your house while unwed.”
James scowled at him, jumping from the buggy and roughly gesturing to the hotel boy to hold the horse.
“You’ve allowed her nothing, Pendleton. Every night she’s spent in your establishment has been paid for and you know it. Your services will not be necessary. Jewel, I think it’s time we go to the church. Don’t you?”
Now it was James’ turn to receive Jewel’s shocked stare.
“What? You mean right now?”
“Is that a problem?” James stared at her, his usual gruff self. To the surprise of everyone gathered around, Jewel smiled and shook her head.
“No, dear. It’s not a problem at all. It actually sounds like fun.”
Mr. Pendleton sputtered as Jewel and James walked past him into the hotel. When they reached her room, they discovered that Maria had run ahead of them and already started packing, and within ten minutes Jewel’s few possessions were back in her trunk.
Though most of the onlookers were awaiting their return, Mr. Pendleton had vanished. To Jewel’s surprise, people clapped when they emerged from the hotel.
“Heaven help us all. James Harland is getting married. The end of creation is upon us!” someone shouted from the back of the crowd. James treated them all to a vile glare, prompting more laughter.
“Hell’s frozen over, alright.” another man said, shaking his head. “You better soften him up, ma’am, for your own sake.”
“Don’t you worry about that. I can handle him,” Jewel said with a smile.
James gave the hotel boy a big tip to take
Similar Books
