Together Forever by Jody Hedlund

Author:Jody Hedlund [Hedlund, Jody]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Fiction;FIC042030;FIC042040;FIC027050
ISBN: 9781493414819
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2018-03-12T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

“You’ve been avoiding me.” Drew stepped in front of Marianne as she exited the seamstress shop. In a new yellow silk gown, she was breathtakingly beautiful, her creamy skin and brunette hair standing out even more in contrast to the pale gown. She wore a new hat as well, and her hair was pulled back into dangling curls that hung down her back.

“I’ve just been very busy.” She sidestepped him, but he snagged her hand before she could get away.

“No. You’re most definitely avoiding me. Even Jethro noticed.” He nodded toward the depot down the street, where the little boy was standing outside watching them.

Marianne smiled and waved at Jethro.

They’d been in Quincy for three days. At first, Drew had taken her at her word that she was busy spending time with her sister and having dress fittings. But that morning, after breakfast when Marianne had scurried away, Jethro was the one to say what they’d both concluded. “She’s mad at you, Mr. Brady. You better do something real quick to make her like you again.”

Faced with another challenge, Drew spent the morning with Jethro plotting ways he could win Marianne’s favor. Drew wasn’t exactly sure why he’d lost her goodwill or why he felt the need to woo her, except he was driven by the desire to prove to himself that he could win her if he really wanted to.

Marianne tugged against his hold, but with Jethro watching, Drew knew he was at an advantage. She’d do anything so she didn’t have to hurt the boy’s feelings, even play along with whatever plans Drew had concocted.

“I have a special afternoon planned,” he said.

“I’m helping Elise in the kitchen a little later.”

“She told me she would be able to get by without you.”

“You spoke to her without consulting me?”

Drew slipped Marianne’s hand into the crook of his arm and started to stroll toward the wagon and team he’d hitched in front of the depot. “As a matter of fact, Elise is the one who gave me the idea for the afternoon.”

Marianne almost stumbled. “Elise wouldn’t have.”

Drew smiled. Elise hadn’t been overly friendly toward him. It was clear she didn’t approve of the hasty marriage plans and was likely doing whatever she could to talk Marianne out of it. He wasn’t sure why that fueled his desire to marry Marianne all the more, but it did.

“Elise didn’t anticipate I’d take you along,” he admitted. “But you can’t disappoint Jethro, can you? He’s looking forward to spending the afternoon with us.”

The boy had climbed into the back of the wagon and was watching their approach with unbridled excitement.

Marianne forced another smile for Jethro’s sake. “What exactly are we doing?”

“It’s a surprise.”

“I don’t want a surprise.”

“I thought you liked them.”

“You have me confused with you.”

He laughed, and this time her responding smile was genuine.

When they reached the team and wagon he’d borrowed from Mr. Gray, he helped her up onto the bench.

“Are you in on the surprise too, Jethro?” she asked the boy as the wagon rumbled out of town.

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