Chapter 11
Tori crawled out of bed and made her way to the china bowl on the floor in the corner. Braced on her knees, she held her hair back as her stomach heaved. Finished, she sat back on her heels and took a deep breath. A refreshing drink from the glass of water on the dresser restored her. After rinsing her mouth, she washed her hands and face and pulled on her clothes.
She glanced out the darkened window. No sunlight yet. Soft predawn shadows held the room captive. The outline of Jesse’s body, arms and legs flung out, hair falling over his forehead, brought a smile to her lips. As she stood there, a giant wave of fatigue washed over her. If only she could crawl back into bed alongside her husband’s warm body. Just a few more minutes of sleep. Instead, she grabbed her shoes, then crept out of the room.
She yawned as she walked down the hallway. If Jesse would only stop trying to run her life, they would get on a lot better. In a few months, she wouldn’t be able to work at all. Her stomach clenched at what the school board would do when they discovered her pregnancy. Expectant mothers were not allowed to teach. In fact, she was lucky they hadn’t fired her when she married, since they didn’t approve of married teachers, either. Such stupid rules! What was a woman to do, starve to death? No, that’s where husbands come in. Ha! Depend on a man? Not me.
Tori entered the children’s house. Eerie shadows emerged into well-known objects as she lit lamps. She assembled ingredients for cookies as thoughts turned to Jesse’s suggestion of a doctor visit. Another example of him trying to take control.
If she visited Dr. Hendricks, the whole town would know of her pregnancy. When Jesse laughed and pointed out the whole town would know in a few months anyway, it angered her.
After she placed the first batch of cookies in the oven, she poured a cup of coffee and strolled to the front window. She closed her eyes and tipped her head back. The sun rising above McCarren’s Mercantile warmed her face, bringing a sense of peace and contentment. When she opened her eyes, there stood old Abe McCarren, unlocking the front door. Other merchants arrived, amid cries of ‘morning.’
As much as she hated to rely on Jesse for the children’s needs, at least with his law practice flourishing, money would not be a problem when she stopped working. Although Guthrie boasted over eighty lawyers, Jesse’s reputation as a smart and fair attorney brought lots of business to his door. Most days he arrived in the office right at
dawn, and dragged himself home after dark. Regardless of his work schedule, he always met her outside the school every day and insisted they go to The Café for a break.
A small smile twitched her lips. I’m going to drown from all the tea he’s pouring down my throat.
Her head jerked as the back door opened. Jesse stood there, glowering.
“Why didn’t you wake me before you left?”
Maybe so I wouldn’t have to listen to your complaints?
“You looked too comfortable.” She shrugged, moving into the kitchen. She quickly removed one batch of cookies from the oven, then slid another in.
She peeked at him from lowered eyelids. He must have thrown his clothes on and walked out the door. But Lord, he looked good. His brown wavy hair dusted his eyebrows. He needed a haircut. Yesterday’s beard shadowed his face. His open shirt hung outside his trousers, above bare feet. Her tongue itched to lick the area of his exposed chest, swirl down the stripe of hair that disappeared at his waist like an arrow. Heat rose to her face, and her stomach fluttered.
“You look tired.” He took her chin in his hand, examining her face.
Not again.
“I’m fine.” She pulled her head from his grasp and continued to work.
He crossed his arms over a muscled chest and leaned against the wall. “Yes, a flushed face and dark circles. Always a sign of blooming health.”
“Jesse, stop fussing.” She took a deep breath to calm herself and wiped sticky hands on her apron. Smirking, she picked up a cookie and shoved it between his lips. “Here, keep your mouth busy.”
“Ouch, that’s hot.” He took the cookie out of his mouth and waved it at her. “You are very stubborn.”
“If you weren’t always insisting I do things your way, I wouldn’t have to resist, so therefore you’re stubborn.” So there!
He hesitated, as though considering whether to say something more, then, shaking his head, he gave her a quick kiss on the forehead and left. She watched him go, regret filling her. They could have a satisfying marriage if only he. . . Oh, what’s the point? He’s too stubborn.
The brown and white Palomino shook his head and splashed red muddy water as Jesse guided him and the carriage to the railroad warehouse, where everyone gathered for the church social. Tori shivered and pulled her coat closer. Where had summer gone? Winter seemed anxious to make an appearance, even though the calendar said October. A few brown leaves dangled from trees, and soon this last evidence of autumn would join the others on the ground to be trampled, or blown away with the wind.
The evening brought with it a torrential rainstorm common to Oklahoma Territory. Jesse did his best to get them both to the dance without getting too wet, but they still arrived damp and chilled. Temperatures in October could be either warm or downright cold. Tonight seemed to be one of the latter.
The ladies had worked hard decorating the vast space to look festive. Ticket sales would raise a considerable amount of money toward the Fellowship Hall building.
Tori sneezed as they hurried into the warehouse. Jesse ushered her to one of the stoves, and she settled into a chair. A fresh log snapped and crackled and emitted heat for several feet. He relieved her of the basket of cookies gripped between her cold red fingers, silently chastising herself for not wearing the gloves he’d suggested.
Truth be known, she would have preferred to stay home. Images of a warm cup of hot chocolate, a glowing fireplace, and a comfortable chair brought tears to her eyes. Jesse, rubbing her feet, holding her close to his warmth. Was she coming to depend too much on him?
She’d risen as usual before the sun. Soon she would have to cut back. Mrs. Bonner had found someone to do her baking. Since she didn’t show much, the school board hadn’t discovered her secret and fired her yet, but it would happen any time. They’d already told her when another teacher was found, she would be replaced since she had a husband to support her now.
So tired of being tired, it pained her that her stubbornness had built such a wall between her and Jesse. They hardly spoke anymore without arguing. Her stubborn streak got in the middle of their relationship. Why did she do things against her own best interests to spite him? Just so he wouldn’t think he could tell her what to do? How he put up with it, she didn’t know.