19

Cassie held her breath, waiting for Mr. Fitzhugh’s reply. Jacob shifted on his crutches until his shoulder touched hers.

Mr. Fitzhugh’s gaze bounced between them as though he’d just noticed Jacob. He stepped forward and held out his hand.

“You must be Mr. West. Miss Haddon’s mother has mentioned you.” From his tone, the mention hadn’t been favorable.

Jacob grasped the extended hand. “Jacob West. And your name?”

“Patrick Fitzhugh. Miss Haddon and I are old friends.”

Cassie gasped at the implication. They weren’t friends at all. “I beg your pardon, Mr. Fitzhugh. We’ve only met briefly on two occasions. Why would you come in here and pretend a relationship that doesn’t exist?”

“My apologies. I confess I was presuming upon your engagement to my older brother. Had he lived, we’d have known each other well.” He sent her a winning smile. “Please forgive me for overstepping.”

Jacob moved away from her side. Head lowered, he glared at Mr. Fitzhugh. “You’ve come at a busy time. Perhaps you and Miss Haddon could continue your conversation later.” His growl sent a shiver through her. Few people would ignore the power in that voice.

Mr. Fitzhugh wasn’t one of them. “I understand.” He backed toward the entrance, then faced Cassie. “I’ll be here until Monday. Perhaps you’d allow me to escort you to church tomorrow. Your mother told me where you’re living and where you worship.”

“My mother . . .” Cassie held out her hand. “Please tell me. Is she all right?”

“She’s well.” He shot a glance in Jacob’s direction. “We’ll talk more tomorrow, when you’re free.”

The door closed behind him with a sharp click.

Jacob leaned against a counter, a stunned expression on his face. “You were engaged? How long ago? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“We’re hardly that well acquainted, Mr. West.” She deliberately reverted to using his formal name. “If such a time ever comes, rest assured you’ll have all your questions answered.” She tightened her jaw. “Now I really must get back to the kitchen. Please don’t forget the pecans.”

She strode through the dining room, her mind awash with new worries. Would Jacob lose interest in her because she’d once loved another? The prospect had caused her to answer his questions more sharply than she intended. Once again, her quick tongue had run away with her.

Then there was the issue of her mother’s welfare. She wished she didn’t have to wait until tomorrow morning to learn why Mother had sent Mr. Fitzhugh to Noble Springs.

The beginnings of a headache throbbed in her temples.

On Sunday morning, moments after tying the emerald-colored ribbons on her bonnet, Cassie heard a knock at her door. She checked her reflection in the mirror before answering. Worried green eyes stared back at her. Mr. Fitzhugh’s news couldn’t be too terrible, or he wouldn’t have made her wait a day before delivering his message. Or would he? Perhaps Jacob’s scowl intimidated him more than she believed.

Her jaw dropped when she opened the door.

“Jacob. Wh . . . what are you doing here?”

“I believe you invited me to accompany you today.”

He wore an iron-gray suit with a bright white shirt that accented his dusky complexion. His dark hair was freshly trimmed. He’d never looked more handsome.

She glanced over his shoulder in time to see Mr. Fitzhugh approaching on the gravel walk. Sucking in a breath, she met Jacob’s eyes. “Yes, I did invite you, but you declined.”

“I changed my mind.” He nodded toward the alley, where his black buggy waited, its bright red wheels gleaming in the sunlight. “Shall we go?”

“I already agreed to Mr. Fitzhugh as my escort.” At that moment, the blond man arrived at her doorstep.

Church bells pealed through the morning air. Cassie turned her eyes toward heaven. Lord, what do I do now?

“Mr. West.” Mr. Fitzhugh touched the brim of his hat. “I didn’t expect to see you this morning. I trust you’ll excuse us. Services are about to begin.”

“I was going that way myself. No reason two of us can’t escort Miss Haddon. Last I heard, God’s not particular.”

Cassie looked down to hide a smile. Jacob not only offered to go to church, he was arguing for the right. Wonder upon wonder. She rested her hand on his.

“Would you mind if we all rode together in your buggy, since it’s close by?”

“Fine idea.” He pointed toward the alley with one of his crutches. “This way, Fitzhugh.”

Cassie followed him, Mr. Fitzhugh at her side. Strolling close to Garrett’s brother gave her a sense of walking through the past. She couldn’t remember how many Sundays she’d spent in her fiancé’s family pew in St. Louis.

Mr. Fitzhugh bent his head down to whisper near her ear. “Perhaps we could have a few minutes alone after church?”

“I’m sorry. I’ve promised the afternoon to Mr. West. But I must talk with you before you leave tomorrow. Could you come to the restaurant in the morning?”

“There’s nothing I’d like better.”

They reached the buggy, and he helped her in before Jacob could make his way around to the passenger side.

Sandwiched on the front seat as they traveled toward the church, Cassie felt tension crackle between the two men. When she’d invited Jacob to attend services with her, this hadn’t been what she intended.

Mr. Fitzhugh brought news of her mother. She welcomed him for that reason.

Aside from that, she wished he’d go back to Calusa.

As they made their way down the center aisle of the church, Cassie sensed people stirring to gawk. When they passed Faith and her family, her friend’s eyebrows shot to her hairline.

Cassie mouthed, “Talk to you later,” before leading the way to an empty pew on the left side of the sanctuary.

Jacob slid in next to her, leaving the space on his right for Mr. Fitzhugh. He glanced past Jacob, then murmured “Excuse me” and stepped around him to sit on Cassie’s left.

She stared at her lap, waves of heat washing over her. Being in church with Jacob West would be news enough on its own, but to arrive with two escorts? What would people think?

To her eyes, Reverend French seemed to smile in her direction as he moved behind the pulpit. “Our opening hymn this morning is ‘And Can It Be?’”

Cassie rose with the rest of the congregation. She shook her head slightly as she reached for a hymnal. Here she stood with Jacob and Mr. Fitzhugh. Can it be, indeed.

Jacob moved close when she held the hymnal out to share. She couldn’t help but notice how well his resonant bass voice harmonized with her alto. On her left, Mr. Fitzhugh held another hymn book and shot disgruntled glances in her direction while he sang.

After Mrs. French played the closing notes, Cassie sank back onto the pew and listened with half an ear to Reverend French’s sermon. He’d chosen as his topic a passage from the book of Deuteronomy, dealing with Old Testament law. She stifled a yawn and prayed Jacob wouldn’t be equally bored. To have him accompany her to church, regardless of his motive, filled her with joy. She planned to invite him again next week.

After the final hymn had been sung, Jacob waited until most of the congregation left so that his crutches wouldn’t be jostled by worshipers headed for the door. Now he stood with other townsfolk on the lawn outside the square brick church, watching while Cassie and Faith Saxon whispered together.

The service hadn’t been as unpleasant as he’d feared. He expected a pulpit-pounding preacher hollering about judgment, like the one who’d conducted his mother’s funeral. Instead, Reverend French talked about laws God had instituted for his people, and how each one was for their benefit.

The hymns had soothed him. He’d forgotten how much he enjoyed singing, and Cassie’s voice blended perfectly with his. Maybe he’d attend next Sunday, whether or not she invited him to join her.

His fingers tightened on the handgrips of his crutches when Mr. Fitzhugh stopped next to the two women and bowed in Cassie’s direction. Their voices carried over the buzz of conversations surrounding them.

“I’ll see you tomorrow morning before my train leaves.”

“Please, give me the news from my mother now. Surely it won’t take that long.”

“I’d rather wait until we can be alone.” He sent a pointed look at Jacob before lifting Cassie’s gloved hand to his lips.

He tipped his hat in Jacob’s direction. “Good day, Mr. West.”

“The same to you.” Jacob wished he could move fast enough to grab the man by the shoulder and force him to allay Cassie’s fears. Making her wait for news was cruel.