“I thought they tasted a little extra-cinnamony.” Joseph bent and scooped up a rock. “I must say, Rebekah, you certainly got all of her skill in the kitchen.” He flung the rock into the woods and it thunked against a tree. “All of it and then some.”
“You’re awfully complimentary tonight, Joseph Graber.”
He grinned. “Could you get used to it?”
“Maybe.”
Something bumped her hand. “Oh!”
“What is it?”
“Something bumped me.” She shuddered.
“Something like this?” Under the cover of darkness, Joseph’s hand bumped hers again. This time, though, his fingers twined around hers and linked them together.
A wave of shyness swept over her. Her hand trembled and her stomach knotted. How she’d dreamt of the day when he would take her hand in his or even brush against her. In her daydreams, it was always wonderful. But this moment left her daydreams all behind.
“Looks like your folks set the lanterns out for you,” Joseph observed. “It was a shame they had to leave the festival early.”
Though she wanted to respond and continue the jovial conversation with Joseph, who was obviously now her beau, she didn’t trust her own tongue just yet.
Indifferent to her lack of words, he continued. “I suppose Elnora didn’t want little Beanie Bull to catch a chill.” Finishing his theory as they reached the porch, he pulled her close, their hands still intertwined. His other hand was hidden in his far pocket. The lamplight glinted off his eyes and them appear to be nothing more than a sea of azure sparkles.
“Rebekah, there’s something I’d like to talk to you about.” The resolve in Joseph’s strong voice wavered. “It’s no secret—”
Something cracked from the understory. Joseph froze and both he and Rebekah swiveled their heads in the direction of the noise.
“Well, well, well. What have we here?” Slowly, Peter emerged from the woods.
Joseph squared his shoulders at the perceived threat. “Now’s not the appropriate time to come for your wagon.”
A sliver of ice slid down Rebekah’s backbone at Joseph’s tone. Had she been a man, she would have backed off. As things were, though, she felt that she was in awfully capable hands.
Peter leaned and spat as he stepped nearer to them. “I’m not here for the wagon right now. I’m not here for you neither.” His spurs jangled, and a swift breeze blew back his duster to reveal the shiny pistols that hung there.
Joseph slipped his hand from Rebekah’s, which had grown suddenly sweaty. She linked hers behind her back and shrank behind him.
“Then I don’t see as you have any business here at this hour at all.” Had Joseph been a cat, his tail would have been bottle-brushy.
Peter ignored him and shifted his steely stare to Rebekah. “I need to speak to you.”
Rebekah shook her head infinitesimally.
“It’s important.”
The door to the house squeaked open. “Hallo, Peter. Did I hear you mention you needed to speak to my daughter?”
Samuel rested his hands with his thumbs on the inside of his black braces.
“Yessir.”
Samuel nodded. “I see. However, it is much too late and, Rebekah, you should be getting on to bed. Joseph, you come in, too. Your Pa is here.” Samuel motioned toward the door. “Peter, won’t you come back in the morning? Breakfast is at six. You can talk to Rebekah about what’s on your mind then.”
Peter nodded. “Settled, then.” He spat a brown stream into the yard. “You bet I’ll be back.”
***
“Joseph, your pa is in the sitting room. He figured you’d walk Rebekah home and may like a ride to your place.” Samuel’s voice revealed no trace of any nervousness he might felt at Peter’s display. Rebekah’s wasn’t as calm.
“Goodnight, Joseph. Thank you again for a wonderful evening.” She tried not to bite off her farewell, but not only was her pa right there, but the romantic moment, illuminated by moonlight and lanterns, was forgotten. She started up the stairs, careful of the creaky one.
“I’ll see you for breakfast, Rebekah.”
She paused in her ascent. “You’ll be here, too?”
Joseph stared up at her. She hadn’t intended for her question to sound gruff but judging by the way the smile melted from his dimpled face, it had.
She forced a grateful smile and stammered to undo her mistake. “Then I’ll be sure to have cinnamon rolls ready.”
Following her lead, Joseph returned her smile. “See you then.”
Rebekah turned and finished climbing the stairs. Adrenaline surged through her veins as she replayed the conversation with Peter in her mind.
What could he have to say to me?
Rebekah walked past her bedroom and instead, found herself in her quilting room. Easing into her rocker, she plucked up her quilting bag.
“Sweet Ma. She must have placed my sad excuse for a quilt in my bag in the off chance I wanted to practice my sorely lacking skills.”
