Herding Her Heart by Kit Morgan

Author:Kit Morgan [Morgan, Kit]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-10-05T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Jasmine couldn’t sleep, and finally rose early to help Beans in the kitchen. By the time Myrakle and most of the others came down to breakfast, there was bacon, fried potatoes, scrambled eggs, toast, oatmeal and coffee ready to serve. At least the food had improved. Still, a delicious breakfast wasn’t going to make what was sure to come next go away. Jasmine dreaded the mornings after one of her mishaps: the gossip, the jokes, the humiliation …

She did her best not to listen as the others talked about the men they’d danced with, Myrakle’s beautiful music (okay, she made a comment or two about that) and of course, her tumble. Except that wasn’t the only word tossed around the table – fall, drop, splat, crash.

Thank goodness Mr. Redburn brought the topic to a halt when he entered, sat at the table and asked, “Do we have matches this morning after last night’s dance?”

Jasmine looked around the table. Myrakle did and everyone knew it. There were a few other happy faces. Well, good for them.

“Joseph Penella said he wanted to take me to his ranch today,” Myrakle declared. “But we’ll need an escort.” She stared at Mr. Redburn with an expression of pleeeeease? Unfortunately this started a slew of questions, since the only escorts available were Mr. Redburn and Beans, and at least half the brides needed one.

Jasmine sighed. She certainly didn’t need one at present, and Myrakle had to spend more time with Joseph if they were to be married. She sat up straight, figuring she could help. “I could go to the Penella ranch and chaperone Myrakle.”

“You cannot chaperone each other – that wouldn’t be proper,” Bertha declared.

Myrakle moaned, and Jasmine jumped in. “No, no – Myrakle wouldn’t have to chaperone me. I’d just be chaperoning her.”

“You, um, don’t think you and Seth are compatible?” Mr. Redburn asked.

Jasmine’s throat grew so thick it was hard to talk, but she managed to say “No, I don’t think so.” It was much easier to support her fellow brides than to think about getting her own match. After last night, Seth wouldn’t want to be near the disaster she was. She stood without thinking. Myrakle stood with her, a hand on her arm. Her friend could tell she was upset, but it was no use. Even talking for hours on end wouldn’t change how the men from last night saw her as a blithering idiot. Who would want to court her now?

They left the kitchen, went up to their room and sat on Jasmine’s bed. “Oh, Father, you were right,” Jasmine sobbed. So what should she do now – admit defeat or see if Mr. Redburn was a miracle worker? The only shot she had was if he matched her with someone who hadn’t witnessed last night’s calamity. Come to think, he did tell her he had someone in mind he would introduce her to today … maybe it wouldn’t hurt to give him one more chance.

Jasmine got up and walked over to the window.

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