All in the name of true love.
Nineteen
“The winter seems broken at last.”
~Earl Douglass
MONDAY, AUGUST5, 1889
Jacob stared at the quarry. The sight had never been more beautiful. Red rock, sparse greenery, the blue of the sky. He inhaled—and winced. His ribs were healing, but still tender. The doctor’s caution stuck with him. He wouldn’t overdo it today. Even so, he was determined to be out of bed and outdoors, where he belonged.
Humming his mother’s favorite hymn under his breath, Jacob followed the familiar rocky path to the tent. He’d be lying if he said his nerves weren’t tight. He hadn’t seen Martha since that day in his room when he’d declared his feelings. He could feel the flush rising in his neck. He wasn’t ashamed of it. Or of what he had said to her. He’d prayed for her every day since. No matter what happened between them, he wanted Martha to know the Lord. Even if it meant they couldn’t be together.
But now he fully expected an awkwardness to exist between them. “Best get it over with,” he muttered and stepped into the tent. Martha was at the table again, talking with her new foreman.
She glanced his way and gave him a tight nod. “Mr. Duncan, you are familiar with Mr. Parker. He’s the foreman now and will have your assignment for today.”
Martha’s tone was even, matter-of-fact.
It stung.
But he could deal with it. He nodded at her and followed the foreman out, listening as the older man pointed to the northwest side of the quarry. The men had found what they believed to be the skull of theApatosaurand needed someone with his detailed skills to help get it out.
A thrill shot through Jacob. Often the head was the hardest fossil to find. Many skeletons had been sent to museums without the skull or with a mismatched skull. To find a skull intact, that matched the whole skeleton... He couldn’t stop his grin—or the twinge of sadness. Oh, to celebrate this find with Martha. But she still needed space. He would respect that.
“Mr. Duncan!”
His name on the wind gave him pause and he turned, spotting Martha picking her way down the path. Hope flared within him. She came to a stop in front of him, breathless. “Have you grown hard of hearing since your accident?” She smiled. “I called your name four times!”
Her smile was easy and full, a complete contrast to the reception he’d gotten moments before. Heat crawled up Jacob’s face. “I was lost in thought. Did you need me?”
Martha nodded and took a deep breath. “I’m sorry about just now. I wasn’t sure ... I mean I had hoped...” She stopped and clasped her hands together. “I was determined to be professional and calm. But I wanted you to know, I am happy tosee you, Jacob. I’m glad you’re feeling better, and I’m thrilled you’re back on the dig.”
He blinked. He studied her face, the openness of her expression, and swallowed. There was no pretense in her words. Her blue eyes shone with a peace he had not seen there before, and his heart thumped. That’s what it was. The shadows he so often saw in her face were receding. He smiled at her. “Thank you for your well wishes and kindness. And congratulations. Mr. Lewis told me about the skull find.”
Martha went up on her toes. If possible, her smile grew. “Can you believe it? I nearly fainted when we found it a few days ago. I wished so much to tell you right away, but my mother wouldn’t allow me back at your boardinghouse.” She glanced down to the ground and let out a breath. “There’s so much I’ve wished to talk to you about lately.”
Those words warmed him, and he tucked his head down to catch her gaze. “I’ve missed you.” He kept his words tender.
Martha blushed. “I’ve missed you as well.”
“Would you ... that is, are you available to talk?” The words rushed out of Jacob in a whoosh. A crunch of boots on rock signaled someone else was joining them and he wanted to make it quick. “There’s a little café two blocks from my hotel. Would you like to meet for dinner tonight? After work? Around six thirty?”
Happiness shone from her blue eyes as she nodded, lips pressed together, making her dimples appear. “I would enjoy that.”
“Hello again, Mr. Duncan.”
Lily Rose’s voice cut through their moment.
“I’m surprised to see you so well recovered from your injuries.”
Jacob schooled his features into a pleasant smile. He wouldn’t feed the ill will of this woman. “Thank you, Miss Ducasse.” He turned back to Martha. “I’ll see you later tonight.”
He walked away, but Lily Rose’s outrage followed him on the wind.
“Where are you going with that man tonight?”
“We are having dinner. There is nothing untoward, and there are some things we need to discuss. You are welcome to join us.”
