“Oh, thank you. Who’s there?” Bobbie looked up at the blurry features.
“It’s Rigg.”
“Oh.” Bobbie wanted to cry with relief. “I know you’re terribly busy, Rigg, but I’m in a jam. I didn’t explain to Jeff that I needed help getting all the way home, and now he’s left. Troy is working at the livery, so maybe you could let him know I need help. I know you’re busy.” She finished in quiet embarrassment and Rigg led her to the bench in front of his store.
“Just sit here a minute, Bobbie. Jeff is still here.”
Rigg wondered how long Jeff would have stood staring at Bobbie if he hadn’t given him a shake. He seemed to be transfixed by the sight of Bobbie struggling along. Standing about ten feet away from her, he hurried forward after Rigg touched him.
“Here, Bobbie, let me help you.”
Bobbie came to her feet and moved down the street with Jeff, wishing as she went that Gilbert had simply taken her home.
twelve
Bobbie was shivering uncontrollably by the time they reached the house. She stood just inside her front door and tried to calm down. Jeff had come a little farther into the living room and found himself staring at her once again.
In truth, Jeff was horrified over what he had just done. He asked himself how he could possibly have left her at the mercantile after witnessing the fact that she hadn’t even recognized him in the storeroom, and again as they walked down the street she had thought he was Gilbert.
Something inside him had nearly torn in two as he had felt her arm trembling on his own on the walk home.
“I’m sorry, Bobbie. I feel ashamed I wasn’t more sensitive to your needs.”
“It’s all right, Jeff. I should have explained. I need to talk with your father. It never occurred to me that your family didn’t realize the problem I have with my vision.” Bobbie’s voice was soft, almost resigned.
“It’s not going to change your status on the job, Bobbie. I can promise you that.”
Bobbie only shrugged, clearly not believing him, and began to move across the room. That it was familiar to her was obvious, but Jeff was still pretty disturbed, and so he spoke up.
“Bobbie, if you’ll just tell me what you need, I can get it.”
“That’s all right, Jeff. You don’t need to stay. I’ll come back as soon as I repair my glasses.”
Jeff ignored her and deliberately moved to block her path. She stopped and stared up at him, noticing absently that she was feeling warmer.
Jeff brought his face down to what he believed to be very close. “Can you see me?”
“Pretty much.”
Jeff moved again, this time until his nose was no more than an inch from hers.
“Now?”
“Yes.”
“I want you to tell me what you need. I really can be of much more use than I was here in the last hour. So if you’ll just tell me what you want, I’ll get it.”
Bobbie could see that he was determined. “I need to go into the kitchen.”
Jeff turned his back to her. “Grab hold of the back of my coat.” Bobbie grabbed on and was led into the kitchen.
“Now,” she said, “over in the pantry there’s a basket with odds and ends in it.” She was quiet while Jeff retrieved it.
“What I need is a small tool that repairs the tiny hinges in these frames.” Bobbie reached into her pocket for the glasses, and Jeff seated them both at the table.
Jeff nearly pressed the tool into her hand but instead picked up the glasses she had laid on the table. Bobbie didn’t object, but leaned very close in an effort to see him work. He worked with careful precision, no easy task with Bobbie’s nose almost touching his cheek. He noticed how nice her hair smelled and nearly told her so, but just then the back door opened and in walked Troy.
“Is that you, Dad?”
“What happened to your glasses?” Bobbie’s question about who he was told him instantly, before he had even looked at her, that she couldn’t see. Never was Troy more protective than when his sister couldn’t see. Even as a child he could become almost violent if Bobbie were threatened when she was without her glasses.
“They broke at work.”
“Are you all right?”
“Yes,” Bobbie answered, but would have scowled at her brother had she seen the measured look he was giving Jeff. Although aware of Troy’s scrutiny, Jeff felt it was best to ignore it.
“Got it!” Jeff said with great satisfaction. He meticulously wiped the fingerprints from the lenses before handing them back to Bobbie.
“Thanks, Jeff,” Bobbie said with a relieved smile when she could see again. She then looked at her brother. “How come you’re home?”
Troy shrugged. A family friend had come into the livery to say he thought he had seen Bobbie in front of the mercantile. Troy had been unable to concentrate after that so he took off to find out if it had been her. There had been no sign of her in the shipping office and Troy had nearly run home in a state of panic to find her. She had been out of their life for so long and it had scared him to think that something could happen to her when they had just gotten her back.
Troy never answered her, but for the moment Bobbie didn’t seem to notice his quiet behavior.
“I need to get back to work.”
“I’ll go with you,” Jeff said, and trailed silently after her. Troy’s gaze had warmed slightly, and Jeff, not inclined to take things personally, figured Troy had been worried about his sister.
The walk back to the shipping office was equally as quiet as the exit from the house. Wasting no time once she was back inside, Bobbie went straight to Bill’s office. She entered when he called “come in” and Jeff walked into the storage room to find Gil.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Taylor, I really am. It never occurred to me that you didn’t know. I do have an extra pair of glasses that I’ll bring in so I won’t be completely out of commission if this happens again.”
Bill listened in patient silence. She had apologized at least six times, and even though he had assured her that everything was fine, he could see that this had really shaken her up. She wasn’t anywhere near this upset when she left, and Bill couldn’t help but wonder what had happened while she had been gone with Jeff.
They continued to talk, and in time Bill could see that he was finally getting through to her, making her understand he wasn’t at all upset and that she still had the job for as long as she needed.
But as they finished, Bill wondered if he should question Jeff. Maybe he could shed some light on why this very efficient young woman had been totally rattled over her glasses breaking.
“I should have explained to you,” Gil said quietly.
“I should have seen with my own eyes that she needed help.” Jeff was still reprimanding himself as he and Gilbert talked in the back room.
“Well, I’m glad you spotted her at the mercantile when you did and Rigg was able to grab her. Don’t look so down, Jeff. You said you apologized.”
“I know.” But Jeff didn’t look the least bit consoled. He left the storeroom to help two customers, and by the time Bobbie came out of Bill’s office, he had formulated a plan.
“Bobbie,” Jeff approached her immediately. “I was wondering if you’d let me take you to lunch today?”
“That’s very nice of you, Jeff, but you don’t have to do that.” Bobbie was in no way fooled by this sudden invitation. Jeff was still feeling badly about the morning and Bobbie admitted to herself that it had been very upsetting, but it was nothing to feel guilty about for the remainder of the day.
“I know I don’t have to. I want to.”
Bobbie smiled at him, but didn’t answer. He was different now than when she had known him before, very different. In fact, it was like getting to know a complete stranger. She knew his treatment of her that morning had not been out of rudeness and Bobbie wished she knew him well enough to know what was going on inside his head.
Jeff had no idea how handsome he looked to Bobb
ie at that moment, as he looked at her in silent entreaty. ‘He really is wonderful to look at,’ she told herself, still wishing she knew him better.
“I brought my lunch.” Bobbie tried another tactic after a moment of silence.
“Then take it home with you.” Jeff was not to be dissuaded.
Bobbie cocked her head to one side. “Has anyone ever called you pushy?”
“I think you just did,” Jeff answered, and deliberately mimicked Bobbie’s movement with his head.
Bobbie put her head to the other side and Jeff did the same. She told herself not to smile. After all, she reasoned, it would only encourage him.
“You’re trying not to smile,” Jeff said knowingly, and it was too much for Bobbie. Her grin nearly split her face.
“Will you go?”
“Yes.”
Jeff’s grin was triumphant and Bobbie shook her head in mock disapproval as she headed into the back room.
thirteen
The next hour saw a buzz of activity in the front of the shipping office. Gil and Bobbie worked steadily in the back, with an occasional trip out front to help Jeff and Bill.
The inventory would have been done long before lunch if Bobbie hadn’t needed to leave. It was nearing 1:00 when Jeff looked up to see Sylvia walking in the door.
“I figured something like this must have happened. I can see you’ve been very busy, so I’ll forgive you if you come to lunch right now, like you were supposed to an hour ago.”
Jeff caught himself just before he began to babble. How in the world could he have forgotten that Sylvia asked him to lunch at her sister’s? Now what was he going to do?
Sylvia, who had been smiling at him and was obviously in good humor, was beginning to frown over the way Jeff stood and stared at her in mute indecision.
“I’ll be right with you,” Jeff finally said, then rushed into the back room, leaving Sylvia alone.
“We’re almost finished. Are you ready to leave?” Bobbie spoke as Jeff approached.
“Not exactly.” Jeff said the words carefully, mentally measuring how he was going to explain.
“Is there a problem?” Bobbie asked with quiet sensitivity.
“Yes, there is, and it’s all my fault. You see, Sylvia is out front. She asked me to lunch last night, and—”
“You forgot.” Bobbie finished for him and raised her ordering sheet to her mouth. Her eyes told Jeff she was about to laugh, but Jeff didn’t find the situation at all amusing. He had thought himself quite clever in coming up with this lunch idea to make up for the awful morning. Now this had to happen.
“Jeff.” Sylvia’s voice sounded from out in the main room and Jeff nearly groaned. Gilbert, who was listening from his place on the ladder, went out to give Jeff and Bobbie a little more time.
“Go with Sylvia, Jeff. She’s waiting for you, and as I said, I have my lunch along.”
“I’m sorry, Bobbie. You must think I’m very insensitive.”
“Not insensitive, just forgetful,” Bobbie said with another smile, and turned away so Jeff knew he could leave. His look had been heartbreaking, and Bobbie wished there was something more she could do to reassure him. He was going to have to get to know her, to understand she wasn’t that sensitive.
Bobbie and Gilbert ended up eating their lunch together and talking like old friends.
“How go your wedding plans?” Gil asked kindly.
“Well, I’m not really rushing anything,” Bobbie answered carefully, and Gilbert immediately keyed in on her hesitancy.
“I believe I was out of line just then and should apologize.”
“Don’t apologize, Gilbert. The truth is, Cleve has asked, but I haven’t answered him. Marriage is a rather big step, and I’m still praying about it. Cleve told me to take all the time I need. He said he was sure he would eventually win me with his charm,” Bobbie finished with a smile.
“I’m glad you told me, Bobbie. I’ll be praying with you.”
“Thanks, Gilbert.”
The two fell silent. Gilbert searched for a change in the subject. “Will you miss living on the ocean?”
“You know, I really will,” Bobbie admitted. “The sea is always so unpredictable and I love it.”
“My sister-in-law Kaitlin grew up in the middle of the Pacific and she talks the same way. I’ve never even seen the ocean.”
“You might have a chance someday. It helps to have relatives living right on the coast, but you never know, maybe when you get married you and your wife will honeymoon at the ocean.”
“Are you applying for the job?” Gilbert teased her with a tender light in his eyes and then laughed without repentance when she blushed.
Jeff walked in on this scene. He looked from Bobbie to his brother for a moment, biting his tongue to keep from asking what Gilbert had said to make Bobbie blush.
Lunch had been miserable for Jeff. Sylvia was angry for most of the meal over the way he had gone into the back room and left her alone. Jeff had been preoccupied by the way Bobbie had turned away from him before he left. He thought she had been hiding her true feelings from him, masking how upset she was, and now he came back to find her laughing with his brother and then blushing like there was something personal between them.
“How was lunch?” Gil asked.
“Are you guys done in the back?” Jeff evaded the question.
“I’m going to finish up on my own,” Gil told him. “Bobbie is free to help you out here.”
Jeff nodded, carefully keeping his emotions off his face. He would have been surprised to know that both Bobbie and Gil knew something was bothering him. They just didn’t know what.
“I’m going to head home now, Jeff. Would you mind telling your dad?”
“I’ll tell him. Maybe I should walk you home. It’s getting pretty dark.”
“Oh, I’ll be all right, but thanks for the offer.”
Jeff stepped forward when Bobbie lifted her coat from its peg on the wall. His touch was careful as he assisted Bobbie with her coat. Bobbie turned while she was buttoning to thank him. She looked up and opened her mouth to express her appreciation, but something in his face stopped her.
“You haven’t had a very good afternoon, Jeff,” she said instead. “Is anything bothering you?”
Jeff’s heart would have been made of stone had he not responded to the tenderheartedness he saw in her eyes.
“Are you sure you’re not upset about today?” Jeff finally asked the question that hadn’t been off his mind for a moment.
“I was scared in front of the mercantile, Jeff, very scared, but I was over it before we ever left my house. And if you’re still bothered about lunch, well, let’s just say, I wish there was some way for you to know how well I understand. Everyone forgets things. And while we’re on the subject of the way I’m feeling, can I say something?”
“Please do.”
“I have feelings, Jeff. If you cut me I’ll bleed, and if someone says something cruel to me I might cry, but I’m not made of crystal.”
“I never said you were.”
“But that’s the way you’re treating me. You can joke with me, Jeff, just like your father and Gilbert do, and you can even bump into me without apologizing for ten minutes. I’m not going to go to pieces like I did five years ago and run away, if that’s what you’re thinking. You push me and I just might push back.”
Bobbie’s chin had raised on these last words as did Jeff’s eyebrows. ‘She’s right,’ he said to himself. ‘I’ve been treating her like she’s a fragile piece of china, when plainly she’s not.’
“All right, Bobbie Bradford,” Jeff said with an air of determination. “I’ll treat you with the respect you deserve and no more patronizing, if you’ll always talk to me as bluntly and as honestly as you did just now.”
Bobbie’s hand came out and Jeff shook it. “It’s a deal, Jeffrey Taylor, and by the way, you need a haircut.”
The grin Bobbie gave Jeff on these words was nothing short of che
eky. Jeff would have smiled back and said goodnight before she sailed out the door, but he was too surprised to do anything.
“Like my dad said, she’s not what we expected.” He addressed the words to the quiet office and then found himself whistling as he retrieved his own coat to head home.
fourteen
Jeff had supper at home, but left as soon as the meal was over to go to Rigg and Kaitlin’s.
“What brings you out tonight, Jeff?” Kate wanted to know.
“Your haircutting skills, if you’re up to it.”
“She’s not,” Rigg said in a firm voice, but Kate ignored him. Kaitlin had been after Rigg for a week to let her cut his hair, but he always put her off. His worry over her fatigue was beginning to show, but even though Kate was tired, she wasn’t an invalid.
“I’d be glad to cut your hair, Jeff. Why don’t we go into the kitchen?”
“Kaitlin,” Rigg pleaded softly, his voice laced with anxiety. Kate lingered next to him on the couch a moment and spoke with her face close to his.
“I’m fine, Rigg. You and Marcail did all the work for supper, so it’s certainly not going to tax my strength to cut hair. I only wish Sean were here. He looks so disheveled these days.”
Husband and wife exchanged a glance. Sean had been unpredictable lately, and the strain of it was worse than anything Kate had ever experienced. He did a tremendous amount of agreeing when he was face-to-face with you, but the minute your back was turned he did as he pleased. So far the things he did were not extremely serious, but there was a pattern of rebellion developing.
Rigg had already punished him for lying and also for disappearing after school with some friends and not coming in until almost bedtime. While the whole family prayed fervently for wisdom in dealing with Sean, most of the time Kate prayed for patience.
Kate and Jeff spoke easily while she clipped his hair. While not mentioning anything to Jeff, Kaitlin wondered if he knew how many times he referred to Bobbie.
“Bobbie said I need a haircut.”