Jake's Angel by Nicole Foster

Author:Nicole Foster
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Isabel turned from side to side, examining the fit of her new dress in the mirror. She’d indulged in the dress for Katlyn’s engagement party, a picnic hosted by the Parkers at their ranch. The Parkers had practically adopted Daniel, and, when they learned of his engagement to Katlyn, insisted on organizing a celebration.

She and Nana had worked all week cutting and stitching the deep-blue cotton, Esme’s skilled fingers putting the final tailoring into the cinched waist and bodice so that it hugged Isabel close. The off-the-shoulder scooped neck and short puffed sleeves gave the dress the Spanish flavor Isabel had wanted.

Would Jake notice, she wondered as she pulled a shawl, finely woven in shades of gold, from her drawer? He’d accepted the Parkers’ invitation and agreed to escort her, the boys and Esme to the party. But she suspected that had more to do with his wanting to learn more about Jerico than a desire to attend a social with her.

Dream of me, he’d said. She had, though long ago she’d learned just how dangerous dreams could be.

Isabel sighed, thinking how difficult it was becoming to imagine her house without him. All week, she’d kept busy compounding various remedies. While she worked in her shop, rode out to Etta Black’s house to treat the old woman’s broken ankle, or combed the meadow for a new supply of thistles, Jake had, without telling her his plan, enlisted the boys in helping him repair and repaint the broken shutters all around the house.

Jake would have made a wonderful father, she thought. When Matt pounded his thumb with the hammer, Jake comforted him and corrected him. When Nate nailed a whole set of shutters upside down, Jake had made a joke of it and showed him how to turn them around. She’d often come upon them laughing over some minor mishap or with their heads together, plotting their next chore.

Every time Isabel volunteered to help when she ventured outside to offer lemonade or water, the boys shooed her away, proud to be doing “man’s work” with Jake. Until he’d come into their lives, they hadn’t shown how much they’d missed having a father.

And watching Jake working, sweating, flexing, day after day, she hadn’t realized how much she missed having a man.

A few evenings Jake had gone into town to see Cal or go to the Silver Rose to find out what news there was on Jerico’s whereabouts. Once, at Cal’s request, he’d ridden out to the foothills north of town, easily picking up the trail of an out-of-work miner who’d taken to thieving horses. Jake had made short work of delivering the man to the jail.

But he’d never missed supper and he was always up before dawn the next day, ready to go to work with the boys.

Isabel tried to appreciate his effort, take pleasure in his company, and not think about the day when she’d wake up and find him gone.

Satisfied she’d done all she could do to look her best, Isabel headed to the front room to meet the others.

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