“No, I’ll fall.
“Then I’ll catch you.” But still she kept her eyes glued to the ice. Nothing he could say would make her raise them.
“You’re going to get a stiff neck,” Ross finally told her, but she had no chance to reply because Becca and Eliza skated into them just then and all four went down in a laughing heap.
“Becca, I thought you were going to stay with Silas.”
“I was, but Eliza’s helping me.”
“I can see that.” The skeptical tone was lost on the little girls who were once again on their skates and making unsteady progress across the pond with shrieks and giggles.
“Ross, wouldn’t you rather move a little faster? I mean, just because you asked me to come with you doesn’t mean you have to hold my hand the entire afternoon.”
“Maybe I want to hold your hand the entire afternoon.” He had her on her feet now and they stood still for a moment on the ice. Mandy loved the way he looked in his hat, especially when he pushed it back a bit on his forehead, like it was now.
Ross thought Amanda, with her white hat slightly askew, was the most adorable thing he’d ever seen. He slipped one glove off to brush a few flakes of snow on her cheek. She never took her eyes from his, as he replaced his glove and took her mittened hand, not even when Ross guided her forward across the ice.
53
The hot liquid in the cup burned Mandy’s tongue a little, and she blew across the top in an effort to cool it.
“Do you want a little snow in that?”
“No thanks, I like it pretty hot.”
She and Ross stood near one of the fires and watched April Nolan on the ice. April was a charming picture of controlled movement, her hands held gracefully at her sides, giving her balance as she glided along the ice.
“She’s wonderful, isn’t she?”
“She sure is,” Ross agreed.
Mandy’s attention was caught by Levi and Clovis arguing. She moved toward them just as the first snowball flew. One whizzed just past her head as she neared, and she reached for Levi before he could let another one fly.
“Levi, don’t—” Mandy’s words were stopped when a snowball hit her right in the chest. She looked down slowly at the white splat on her blue coat and then over at Clovis, whose eyes were wide.
The little boy was still standing transfixed by what he had done to his sister when Mandy balled up a handful of snow and threw it hard. What followed was a massive snow fight, adults, teens, and little ones all joining in to bombard one another. Some even left the ice to participate.
Ross searched for Mandy in the sea of white and laughed when he spotted her cowering behind Mac’s huge form. She didn’t argue when she felt a hand tug on her arm, and allowed Ross to lead her away into the shelter of two nearby trees. She leaned against one, still laughing from the fun and gasping for breath.
“How long do you think it’ll go on?”
“I don’t know,” Ross said as he peeked out. “It’s getting dark, which is going to make everyone’s aim worse than it already is.”
Mandy stepped away from the tree, watching with Ross from a safe distance. When she felt his eyes on her she turned her head to look at him. Dusk was quickly turning to darkness, but Ross was very aware of their lack of privacy.
“Well, you two are smart,” Carrie said as she approached. “It’s getting wild in there.”
“Amanda figured that out a long time ago—she was hiding behind Mac earlier.”
Carrie laughed out loud before her attention was captured by Pete skating with one of the girls from church. Mandy, still intent on the last snowball throwers, missed her gaze, but Ross watched her face in the waning light.
“Oh, Becca’s crying and I don’t see Amy. I’d better go back over.” Mandy didn’t wait to see if anyone followed, leaving Carrie and Ross alone.
“Does Pete have someone special in Reedsburg?”
“I don’t think so.”
“That wasn’t really fair of me to ask you. I’m sorry.”
“No need to apologize. I think I understand.”
“I don’t think anyone understands,” Carrie told him honestly.
“You might be surprised, Carrie.” His words caused her to look at him in a new light, and she saw how kind his gaze was.
“I think you might be real good for Mandy,” she said after a moment, as if just realizing this.
“I’m glad you think so; your opinion means a lot to me.”
“Does it really?”
“Yep,” he stated firmly. Carrie was surprised speechless when he bent and kissed her forehead before following Mandy’s tracks back to the pond.
“Thank you, Preston. Would you like to come in? I can make us a snack.” Grandma Em spoke as she took her coat from Preston’s hands. Hanging it in the closet, she noticed he hadn’t answered or removed his own coat.
“Preston?” she questioned softly again.
“I want to, Emily, but I think I’ll pass tonight.”
It was tempting to ask if she’d done something wrong, even though the entire evening had been wonderful.
“Your hands are cold.” He had reached for her hands and held them gently as they stood by the front door. “Would you like me to add logs to the stove before I go?”
“I can do it.”
He released her as though she hadn’t spoken and went into the kitchen. Grandma Em waited where she was. Preston still had his coat on when he returned, and he went directly to the door and put his hand on the knob.
A minute passed before he changed his mind and moved away from the door. With his hand beneath Emily’s chin, he raised her face and gently brushed her lips with his own. Raising his head he studied her face as if memorizing every feature in the lamplight.
In the next moment he said good-bye and moved out the door, his mind contemplating and praying about what he’d seen in Emily’s eyes.
54
The next morning Ross moved up the aisle of the church with Pete and did not immediately see Silas and Amy in their pew. After he sat down, he spotted the person he had been searching for and considered moving up to sit next to Amanda. Just as he made up his mind to move, Candy Hunter slid into the pew and blocked his path. His smile to her was strained, but she didn’t seem to notice.
He moved toward Pete as subtly as he could, but then two more girls joined them on the end of the row. Once again he was nearly shoulder to shoulder with Candy.
Ross began to fiddle with the binding on his Bible and didn’t notice when Mandy turned in her pew, noticing him sitting with another girl.
Mandy told herself she was not going to jump to conclusions. The way they were all seated it did look like the girls sat with the boys and not the other way around. Maybe Ross just hadn’t seen her.
The sermon was lost on Mandy that morning, no matter how hard she tried to concentrate. Visions of the evening before floated through her mind—Ross holding her hand, Ross brushing snow from her face, Ross looking at her with loving eyes, and then Ross telling her at the end of the evening that he would be at Grandma Em’s tomorrow for dinner. He made the words sound like a promise.
He had walked her to Silas’ wagon when everyone was leaving the pond, and Mandy wished she could have asked him to come back to the house with them for a while. But she was afraid of looking pushy so she sat in the wagon and watched him go over to Preston’s sleigh. She comforted herself with the knowledge that tomorrow was Sunday, so she would see him at church as well as at Grandma Em’s.
Their wagon was well on its way before Mandy saw they were headed in the wrong direction. Disappointment knifed through her when she remembered they’d been asked to Sunday dinner at Pastor Chad and Aunt April’s. But Mandy was not one to sulk, so she joined in with the preparation and cleanup. If once in a while her thoughts seemed a little far away, no one appeared to notice. But April and Amy shared more than one glance when they noticed Mandy’s attention waning. Mandy seemed relieved when a few games were br
ought out and she was able to shift her attention to the here and now.
Ross was in the same miserable condition a few blocks away. He first waited for Silas and Amy’s wagon to arrive and then tried to eat a plate full of food for which he was not in the least bit hungry.
Was it normal to be so miserable when you found yourself in love? The question kept coming to mind. And how about the lack of privacy? Ross wanted to kiss Mandy and hold her in his arms and tell her he loved her.
His mind dwelt on the way she always looked up at him with those big hazel eyes, waiting for him to make the first move. Eyes that were still just a little bit wary, a little bit fearful of being rejected.
“Oh, I forgot to give April this music,” Grandma Em was saying as the table was being cleared in the kitchen. “She needs it for next Sunday.”
Ross was all ears, and though he could feel his heart quicken, his stance beside the door never altered.
“Is there something I can do?” he asked quietly.
“Yes there is, if you would. There’s no hurry but if you could drop these at Chad and April’s on your way home, I’d really appreciate it. On the other hand, if you left now, you wouldn’t miss Mandy.” She spoke these final words to Ross alone, and he could see she had just thought of it.
Ross kissed her cheek and took the music. His smile was almost one of relief. When he’d gone out the door, Calvin, the only other one in the room spoke.
“He’s in love.”
“Now, what makes you so sure of that, Cal?” His great-grandmother wanted to know.
“He acts just like Luke did a few years ago with Christine. You know, not really listening when you talk to him and playing with his food instead of eating it. Come to think of it, Gram, you didn’t eat much today either. You feel okay?”
“I feel fine, Cal,” she told him with a smile. “Just fine.”
“Am I ever glad to see you,” Carrie said to Ross as she answered the kitchen door. “Mandy’s been in a cloud all day.”
“Who is it, Carrie? Oh, hi Ross,” Pastor Chad greeted him.
“Hello, Pastor. Grandma Em asked me to bring Mrs. Nolan this music.”
“Oh fine, come on in and give it to her.”
“No, wait,” Carrie whispered. “Ross, you stay here. I’ll send Mandy out here for something and you can surprise her.”
Pastor Nolan chuckled as Carrie dragged Ross over to the wall next to the door. Ross was looking a little baffled by the whole charade when Carrie and Pastor Nolan went out and shut the door.
It took several minutes before the door opened. Ross had begun to think he had been forgotten. Mandy came in and plucked a coffee mug from one of the hooks on the wall, nearly dropping it when she turned to find him standing there. She put the mug on the table and stood still, content just to look at him.
Ross hadn’t even been given time to take off his hat and coat. Mandy watched as he pushed his hat back on his head, his eyes seeming to memorize everything about her. She watched as he stripped the glove off one hand and beckoned to her with the crook of one finger.
Mandy didn’t need to be asked twice. She walked slowly toward him and stopped when she was close. “I forgot we were invited here today,” she said softly.
“I figured as much,” he answered, equally soft. “I didn’t spot you in church until after I’d sat down, and then the pew filled up and I couldn’t come up and sit with you.”
“I figured as much.”
No other words were necessary as Ross slipped his other glove off and tossed it toward the table without taking his eyes from Mandy. His hands came up to frame her face, his thumbs gently tracing Mandy’s cheekbones. Her eyes slid shut at his touch and then flew open when his lips brushed hers.
“Am I out of line?” he questioned her softly, his eyes holding hers, his lips just a breath away.
“No,” she breathed as she raised her face invitingly, her eyes closing once again.
Ross needed no further prompting. Both of them were surprised a moment later to see that Silas had come into the room. No apology was made and Ross slipped his arm around Mandy as they turned to face Silas.
Silas stood for a moment and looked at them. He knew in that instant what other people saw when they looked at him and Amy—a couple in love.
“Hello, Ross.” Silas put his hand out and Ross shook it. “I hope you’ll stay for coffee.”
“I will, thanks.”
Mandy saw the gesture for what it was: approval. She left Ross’ side and went on tiptoe to kiss Silas’ cheek. He hugged her close and then teased her about the coffee she was supposed to be bringing him.
Within minutes the kitchen was filled with Camerons, Nolans, Jacksons, and one Beckett. They were all waiting for coffee or hot chocolate. They were snitching the spice cake that was supposed to be enjoyed with the coffee, as well as the sliced apples that had been put on the table.
Becca plopped down in Ross’ lap and gave him bites of her apple. He kissed her cheek on one of those occasions and her little hand flew to that spot as she looked at him with adoring eyes.
Mandy was pleased to see that the man she loved was accepted and loved by her family. When Levi got a bigger piece of cake, Ross traded with Clovis to avoid an argument. It was a little thing really, but everyone noticed and appreciated his thoughtfulness. His eyes, when anyone spoke to him, were attentive and respectful, but no one could help notice the change in them when they turned to focus on Mandy.
They said she was the most wonderful, beautiful, desirable woman on earth and that he loved her. They said how important she was to him and that he cared for her happiness and welfare.
And Mandy’s eyes said no less to Ross. She looked at him as if he were the answer to her prayers. And as a life mate, he was.
The afternoon was wonderful, and Mandy and Ross parted with the promise that Ross would come for supper the next night. Mandy came close to forgetting to thank Aunt April and Uncle Chad for their hospitality, so mindful was she of Ross’ riding away.
Again everyone was tolerant and almost amused. It was quite obvious to all of them that Ross and Mandy had a future together.
55
Almost two weeks had passed, and every afternoon when Ross closed his office, he could be seen headed in the direction of the Cameron ranch. Ross and Mandy grew closer each time they were together, and Ross made mental plans to take Mandy home to meet his parents after Christmas. He admitted as much to Pete.
“Christmas? I thought you were in love with this girl.”
“I am.”
“Then what are you waiting for? I honestly thought we’d be having a Thanksgiving wedding around here, January at the latest.”
Ross looked thoughtful and then very pleased with himself. He slapped Pete on the shoulder. “Thanks, Pete. I need to go see Grandma Em. I’ll see you later.” Ross had only been gone for a few minutes when Pete answered a knock at the door.
“Hello, I’m looking for Ross Beckett.”
“Come in. He’s not here right now, but maybe there’s something I can do for you?”
“Who are you?”
“Peter Culver.” Pete’s hand went out and the men shook. “Ross and I live here together. And you are—”
“The name’s Brooks. I’ve come over from Reedsburg about my land.”
“Here it is, Ross.” Grandma Em held out a beautiful gold chain with a gold heart hanging from it, set with a small white pearl. Ross reached for it and smiled.
“Thanks for keeping it for me. I’m sure I would have lost it in the move.”
“You say it was your grandmother’s?”
“Yes. She’s no longer living but my mother will recognize it the first time she sees Amanda. You do think Amanda will like it, don’t you?” He looked so unsure that Grandma Em laughed.
“She’ll love it. Are you going to ask her tonight?”
“Yep. I hope she’ll have me.”
“Somehow I doubt you’ll have any trouble convincing her of you
r love.”
They smiled at each other, and Ross started for the front door when Pete stuck his head in.
“Sorry to intrude, Grandma Em, but I had to catch Ross.” Pete turned to him. “There’s a man here who I’m sure you’ll want to meet.”
“Come in, Peter, please,” Grandma Em said graciously.
She and Ross stood back as Pete entered with a man in his forties. Pete introduced the man as Larry Brooks of Reedsburg.
“I’m here about my land,” he said without preamble. “I need to see you and Aaron Marks to see if I can make this clear—my land is not for sale!”
“Clovis, Levi, I’ve asked you not to run through the house.” Amy’s voice checked their stride in the kitchen, but they ran again as soon as they were out of sight, calling back as they went, “Ross is here.”
“Ross?” Mandy and Amy looked at one another because it was a good two hours to supper. The boys had left the front door wide open and were on the porch without coats when the women arrived on the scene.
“Boys, come in here,” Mandy called to them. They obeyed reluctantly and only because Ross was almost on the porch and bringing with him a visitor.
The men were welcomed inside, but before Ross could make any introductions, Mandy spoke.
“Hello, Mr. Brooks. It’s nice to see you.”
“Well, hello, young lady. You’re looking well.” He smiled, his eyes twinkling, as if they shared some private joke.
Introductions were then made. When she heard that Ross and Mr. Brooks were here on business, Amy sent the boys out to the barn for Silas.
By the time Silas arrived and met Mr. Brooks, the men had a map laid out on the dining room table along with legal papers, some familiar.
“I discovered the mistake just a few months ago when there was such sudden interest in my land. Marks contacted me, as did a lawyer in Reedsburg and you, too.” Larry Brooks pointed a finger at Ross.