Twice Promised (The Blue Willow Brides Book #2): A Novel Read Free Page A

her hopes. Whatever they were, they were her private affair. Still, she might grow to love Jess. It could happen. Or . . . His gaze traveled to Cora. Maybe his brother would favor Cora’s dark beauty.
    “What do you say, ladies? Are you willing to give my plan consideration? Let’s say in three weeks, if either of you hate it here or don’t take a shine to Jess, then I’ll pay your train fare back home.” Greta groaned and Cora winced. “Or to wherever you’d like to travel.”
    “As far as Holland?” Greta chuckled, then took a deep breath and looked at him evenly. “Maybe it won’t be all that bad. What do you think, Cora? Shall we stay here and see what develops?”
    Zach held his breath. Surely one of these pretty ladies could be Jess’s bride. Or had he made a huge mistake?
    Cora dabbed her mouth with her napkin and then laid it next to her plate. “I don’t relish going back to Denver, true—but you owe us an apology for toying with our hearts. I’m not sure about Greta, but I developed deep feelings for Jess through those letters, even if he didn’t write them.”
    Zach felt the collar of his shirt tighten against his Adam’s apple and the heat of embarrassment creep up his neck. “I do apologize, ladies. I hope you will see fit to forgive me. Either way, I think you’ll like living in Central City, if you should decide to stay. If not Jess for your husband, you’d have your pick of men. The men outnumber the women five to one.” He propped his elbows on the table and clasped his palms together, then leaned toward them. “Is it a deal then?” He watched as the two ladies seemed to confer through a private signal until they faced him across the table.
    “Against my better judgment, I’ll say yes,” Cora muttered.
    “ Ja . Yes. Count me in. This should be interesting.” Greta nodded her agreement. They all stood, and the ladies fell in step behind the cowboy as he walked back to his wagon.

2
    Jess strode over to the glass front door of the mercantile and flipped over the sign to read C LOSED , then dragged down the shade. It had been one of those busy days when he could’ve used an extra set of hands, especially since Zach had slipped out, off on one of his foolish errands, no doubt. He reckoned it was time to hire another helper. He knew Zach didn’t really want to work here with him.
    Jess turned the key in the lock, untied his stained apron, and flung it on the nail behind the counter. Dang! He hated a dirty apron, but as usual, he’d forgotten to wash yesterday’s out. He probably couldn’t get the stains out anyway.
    He had trouble staying organized or remembering where he put the list that he wrote each day for his customers’ orders, much less remembering to wash an apron. His mind was already racing ahead, thinking of one of his biggest and most persnickety customers, Agnes Cartwright. She wasn’t going to like the fact that the bolt of drapery fabric she’d ordered for her living room hadn’t arrived. He chuckled. That was because, once again, he’d forgotten to add it to the order sent to Chicago.
    Jess leaned back against the long wooden counter. Hours before, miners, farmers, and shop owners had flooded the store. It seemed everyone demanded something and didn’t want to wait their turn. He sighed. He loved people and loved chatting with them, but it was too easy for him to get sidetracked and forget either the task at hand or the others impatiently waiting. Well, they would just have to wait their turn! He was who he was and that wasn’t likely to change. Not now, not ever.
    Jess decided that instead of going upstairs to his small living quarters to scratch up something for supper, he’d haul his tired legs over to Chun-Lee’s. He was hungry enough to eat a bear, and his stomach was gnawing at his backbone. The morning biscuit and jerky were long gone, and not stopping for lunch today made him nearly light-headed. He intended to change his habits as soon as he