* * *
Her awe-filled voice touched his heart. She was a widow who still believed in promises from God. He’d met a few widows in his life and the ones he’d met were bitter about the loss of their husbands. But Eliza Kelly didn’t strike him as a bitter woman. That was one of the things he liked about her. At that thought, Jackson turned from the rainbows and the pretty woman beside him.
Silence hung between them. The birds chirping in the trees and the sound of the horses’ hooves clomping through the mud were the only sounds filling the air.
Jackson felt her studying his profile and fought the urge to squirm. He lowered his hat to shade his eyes. Her brown gaze moved over his face and down his shoulder and continued until she came to his boots. Then he watched from the corner of his eye as she examined herself.
Eliza removed her sun hat. Her hands went to her hair. She released it from the knot she’d piled on top of her head. Next her fingers combed the locks until they hung shiny and soft about her shoulders. Then she began braiding it. He surreptitiously watched as she twisted the braid into a crown on the top of her head.
Realizing she must be preparing to enter town, he returned his focus to the road ahead. After a few minutes, the strong scent of smoke touched his nostrils.
Jackson’s gaze searched the tree line and surrounding area for the source of the smell. He searched the sky for signs of it in the air. Nothing.
“Smells like something is on fire,” Eliza said, raising her nose into the air.
It amazed him that she’d just seemed to notice. Had her mind been focused elsewhere or was Eliza Kelly one of those women who were unaware of their surroundings? He realized she was staring at him and decided to answer. “Yes, but I don’t detect the smoke. Do you see it?”
She’d replaced her hat. Eliza shook her head. “No, could be it’s an old fire. We’re getting closer to town. Maybe someone is burning his trash.”
Jackson saw the homestead Seth had said was standing just outside Cottonwood Springs. He could hear the river gurgling on each side of him and smiled, enjoying the soothing sound. “Maybe so.”
The wagon began the slow climb up the hill. “We’ll be home in just a few minutes,” Eliza told him. Excitement filled her voice at the prospect.
Home. The word sounded promising. Would he find a home in Cottonwood Springs? Or would it just be another town that he’d pass through? For years he’d been searching for his father who had abandoned him and his mother when he was a child. But the hope of finding his father and a home was simply that, a hope. Jackson only wanted to know why his father had left. Was that too much to ask?
Jackson took a deep breath to clear his mind. The acrid smell of smoke seemed stronger. His gaze moved to Eliza once more. He wondered if he and Eliza would become friends once they arrived in Cottonwood Springs or if she would go on with her life and forget all about him.
He found himself hoping she wouldn’t forget about him. Eliza Kelly had made him feel liked today. She’d shared about her hometown and friends as if she thought they’d be friends, too.
Eliza chose that moment to look over at him and give him a dazzling smile. Her smile disarmed him for a moment. It seemed as if all her wholesomeness was in that grin. He found his lips spreading and returning the smile. For a brief moment he wished he was Miles Thatcher and that they were two people in love, returning to their home in Cottonwood Springs. She faced forward once more and the spell was broken.
Jackson shook his head to clear it. It was only a dream. He had faced the truth a long time ago; no woman would ever love him.
His own mother despised him, mainly because he was a reminder that his father had deserted them. If his own mother didn’t love him, then Jackson felt sure no woman could.
They topped the hill, and he found himself looking down on the town below. Eliza gasped beside him. He turned to see shock on her face. His gaze followed hers.
A recent fire had claimed one of the businesses in the valley below. Smoke still drifted up into the air from the ruins. He turned to look at Eliza again. Tears rolled down her pale cheeks, and he knew without being told that the burned building was her dress shop.
Jackson stopped the team and tied the reins down. He reached across and pulled Eliza into his arms. Her tears wet his shoulder as they fell like rain. He looked at the town below and wondered what she would do now.
As if to confirm his thoughts, she cried, “Oh, Mr. Hart, what am I going to do?” She sniffled and then pulled a frilly white handkerchief from her sleeve. In defeat Eliza rested her head on his chest once more. A huge sigh lifted her shoulders, and then her body went still.
He knew with the words he was about to utter that he’d open a part of himself that he’d managed to protect for a long time. “I don’t know what you’ll do, but if you need me, I’m here. You are not alone.” Jackson had felt that sense of hopelessness all his life and could not stand to let Eliza endure it alone.
She straightened away from him and looked deeply into his eyes. Eliza took a deep breath and slowly let it out. She nodded and tried to offer him a wobbly smile. He studied every expression that crossed her features. Right now insecurity and fear fought with determination and acceptance.
“Thank you. I guess we should go down and see what happened.” She scooted over and twisted forward on the seat.
Jackson knew at that moment he would keep his promise to Seth. He would protect and care for Eliza for as long as she’d allow him to. By his own vow, he’d be there for her for as long as she needed him.
* * *
Eliza’s emotions were all over the place. She felt shocked that her home and business had burned to the ground, scared because she had no idea what she’d do now and confused as to why God would allow this to happen.
“Where do you want to go first? Home or to the store?”
Jackson asked as he guided the wagon down the hill.
She tried to control the shake in her voice. “The store was my home.” The pungent scent of burnt wood filled her nostrils and coated her tongue.
He nodded as if she’d told him where to go. The strong jaw she’d admired moments before was clenched, and his hands gripped the reins so tight that his knuckles were turning white.
What must he be thinking? Surely he didn’t think she’d want him to take her in. Jackson had said he’d be there for her, but surely he didn’t expect her to take him up on the kind offer.
Eliza would have laughed at the thought if her situation weren’t so bleak. When the wagon came to a stop in front of her store, she rose to get down.
For a big man, Jackson was fast. Before she could climb from the wagon, he stood beside it, waiting to help her down. He placed both big hands around her waist and lowered her to the ground.
He held her for just a moment longer than necessary and looked deeply into her eyes. Did he see the fear? The helplessness she felt?
“This too shall pass,” Jackson reminded her before releasing her and stepping away. A fresh tear slid unbidden down her cheek.
“Oh, Eliza! I am so sorry.”
Eliza turned to see Rebecca Billings hurrying to her. Her friend grabbed her and hugged her close. “We tried to save it, but, well, it was late last night and...” Her words drifted away on the afternoon breeze much like Eliza’s hope for ever having another shop.
“I’m sorry,” Rebecca offered again. She released her hold on Eliza and stepped back.
Others began gathering about them and presented their condolences, as well. Her gaze searched the crowd for Millie Hamilton. The girl was nowhere in sight. Fear and sorrow warred within her as