“Two days, Jacob. Two days before you came looking.” She crossed her arms, her stance as rigid as the beliefs that rooted her.
“Please, just come back, we can—”
“Can what? Continue living as strangers under the same roof?” Her voice rose, and the air between them crackled with the tension of unspoken grievances.
“Dammit, Poppy, I’m trying here!” He stepped forward, closing the distance between them, but she was immovable.
“Try harder!” And with a swift movement, her hand reached down and picked up her shoe from beside the door. In one fluid motion, it sailed through the air, narrowly missing his head as he ducked.
“Goodness, woman!” he exclaimed, part shock, part admiration coloring his tone.
“Get out of here, Jacob. I won’t be coming back to a loveless marriage,” she spat.
He picked up the discarded shoe, turning it over in his hands. “I’ll leave,” he said quietly, “but this isn’t over.”
“Isn’t it?” Her voice was softer now, but the resolve remained.
“Poppy, I—” He stopped, realizing any further words were futile. With a heavy heart, he mounted his horse, still clutching her shoe.
As he rode home, he felt a stirring deep within—a quickening of his spirit he hadn’t felt in years. It surged through him—the realization that it was Poppy who made him feel alive.
An image of her anger imprinted itself upon his mind. Her strength and that redheaded temper—it awakened something within him.
The war had stripped him of much, taught him about survival with loss and grief. But Poppy…she was teaching him about responsibility—not just to the land or the cattle, but to the heart.
*****
Jacob hitched the chestnut mare to the buggy with meticulous care. “Today,” he murmured to himself. Today, he would start over with Poppy.
The drive to Sarah’s house was a slow one, deliberately so. Jacob took the long way around, letting the gentle sway of the buggy lull him into a state of reflection. When he finally arrived, he found Poppy sitting on the porch, wrapped in a shawl against the morning chill.
“Morning, Poppy,” he greeted her, the words careful, respectful. His dark eyes met hers, searching for a sign of forgiveness.
“Jacob,” she replied, her tone guarded yet not unkind. She descended the steps, eyeing the buggy with a mix of curiosity and caution.
“Would you join me for a drive?” he asked, extending a hand to help her up. It was a simple gesture, but one loaded with significance. Her fingers were cool as they brushed his, a fleeting touch that sent a jolt through him.
They drove in silence at first. Jacob stole glances at Poppy, wishing she’d say something. Anything. He had no idea how she was feeling, but he was pleased she’d joined him. He reached out and took her hand, feeling the roughness of her skin from days of hard work. She didn’t pull away.
“Poppy, I...” He faltered, the weight of his words heavy on his tongue. “I’ve missed this. Missed you.”
She looked at him then. “Jacob, why now? Why all of this?”
“Because I’ve been a fool,” he admitted. “And because I can’t imagine my life without you in it.”
“Do you only want me because of the baby?” she asked, wishing she could keep the sadness from her voice.
“The baby isn’t real to me yet. It’s an idea. You are real to me. The softness of your skin, the sound of your voice. It’s you I miss, Poppy, not the child you carry.”
Poppy watched him for a moment, wondering if he was telling the truth. She felt obligated to give him another chance because of the vows they’d made and the child she was expecting. And for her heart. But would he just break it again?
*****
Sunday came, and with it the church service that gathered the whole community together. Jacob stood at the entrance, scanning the crowd until he found Poppy. He approached her, wanting to be close to her if only for the time they were in the church.
“May I sit with you?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
“All right,” she consented, moving over to make space for him on the pew.
