Year of Jubilee Read Online Free PDF Page B

tended to, the cow
milked.
    Yep. Almost like hiring a servant. Better
even, because she had a vested interest. He leaned back in the seat
and relaxed. The woman next to him recoiled. He cleared his throat.
Except for that. Uneasiness needled him and he shifted again. He
had to remember that, without him, she’d be homeless. Yep. This was
for her own good.
    * * *
    New dresses? Curtains? Quilts? He could
afford all this? A shot of dread rippled through her. What
would he want in return? Selecting fabrics, yard after yard, then
multiple threads, was like a dizzy dream. Jubilee could barely
believe the volume after so much want. That, with the rest of the
supplies Rafe had ordered, came to a very large amount.
    On a bench outside of the mercantile, she
shivered and laid her hand upon the brown package containing the
precious material. Could it be true? Was she really going to take
all of this fabric home? She glanced up and searched the street.
Fear raced through her. Perhaps this was the way it’d be. He
wouldn’t show up and she’d be abandoned here in town. Just as the
treacherous thought leaped to her mind, she saw the wagon appear
from the direction of the sawmill.
    He waved, vaulted from the high seat, and
loaded the stuff in the back of the wagon. When he reached for the
brown package in her hand, she hugged it to herself and shook her
head. He gave a half-grin and encircled her waist to heft her to
the seat. She sat for a moment, trying to still her frightened
heart. Would she ever get used to that?
    He strode into the building to pay for their
purchases and reappeared. “We’re supposed to be at the church at
one.” He climbed aboard. “So I figure we ought to eat before we
head over.”
    Eat? Were they going home? She didn’t
question him as the wagon set in motion. But he didn’t turn around
to head back to the cabin. He went a block up the street and drew
to a stop. Jubilee studied her surroundings.
    “Pastor told me this place had good
food.”
    Jubilee waited for him to reappear at the
side of the wagon. After he set her on the ground, she stepped back
with a puzzled look on her face.
    “We’re eating here?” She motioned to
Millie’s restaurant, with the red-checked curtains at the windows.
Her hand grabbed the side of her skirt.
    “Yep.”
    He started for the door, but she froze. When
he shuffled back to her, he rubbed the back of his neck and raised
his brows. “This not a good place?”
    “I don’t know, I…” They were eating in a
restaurant? She licked her lips and stepped hesitantly toward the
door.
    He hurried to open it, and she halted, eying
him. A gentlemanly gesture. Perhaps he’d been telling the truth,
though it did seem strange for someone to hold the door for her. He
motioned with his hand to precede him. Once inside, Rafe selected a
table and waited for her to sit, then helped her to slide her chair
forward. Jubilee gave a gasp and grabbed the table edge. He sat
opposite her, his eyes probing hers.
    “Do all men open doors and push in chairs?”
She scrutinized him.
    “Yes. Gentlemen do.”
    This would explain Colvin’s lack of manners.
He’d been no gentleman. She continued to analyze Rafe a moment as
she fingered the flatware. “Oh. They have a lot of silverware. Why
are there so many forks?”
    Rafe removed his hat and set it in an extra
chair.
    “Well, the small fork is the salad fork. The
large fork is for the main course.”
    Her brows drew together. Realizing her mouth
hung open, she snapped it shut. The place setting resembled the
table at Mrs. Galston’s house. “Can’t you eat your salad with the
same fork?”
    He chuckled softly. “I suppose you
could.”
    The waitress appeared, rattled off the
specials of the day, then took Rafe’s order. Jubilee paused and
dread filled her chest.
    She leaned forward and whispered,
    “I don’t have any money.”
    He smiled. “I do. Get what you want.”
    She swallowed and glanced at the waitress
again.
    “I…” Oh