Cait didn’t want to get out of bed the next morning. Her battered heart couldn’t take any more. She’d tossed and turned all night long. Where had Jonas gone? Why did he leave? Question after question raced through her head, but there were no answers.
She dragged herself from beneath the covers, made the bed, and splashed water on her face. Brushing out her hair and redoing the braid went faster than she wanted. Perhaps she could make up work to do in her room. If Martha hadn’t finished the dress, Cait could offer to work on the sewing. She sighed. Her father and Martha would both think she’d lost her mind if she offered to sew. Maybe writing letters would be the excuse she needed.
Thoughts of her father sent her scurrying for the door. She heard the low rumble of her father’s voice coming from the kitchen. Cait nearly tripped over the rug as she raced down the hall and stumbled into the room. Both her father and Martha stared at her as she caught her balance and stopped.
“Papa, did you send Jonas off somewhere?” She’d had the thought during the night and prayed this would be the answer.
“I haven’t seen Jonas since supper last night. I rode into town last night.” Angus furrowed his brow as he studied her. “What’s happened to you, Caitie? You look like you’ve been out all night.”
“Have you seen Jonas this morning?” Cait tried to keep the impatience from her voice. She truly did.
“No, I haven’t seen him, but he must be in his room. Where else would he be?” Angus scraped the chair against the floor as he stood. “What is going on here, Caitie? What’s got you upset?”
“He’s gone.” Cait fought despair, wanting to stay calm. She didn’t think it worked from the expression on her father’s face.
“Gone where?” Angus asked.
“I hoped you would know.” Cait pulled out a chair and sank down. She refused to cry. Refused.
“What makes you think he’s gone?” Angus sat down beside her and took her hand.
“Because I needed to see him last night. To tell him something.” Cait hadn’t realized until just now how inappropriate her actions the previous night had been. She could see on her father’s face that he hadn’t missed the implications.
“He wasn’t in the room. All his belongings are gone, too.” She swallowed hard and picked at a loose thread in her skirt. “I thought maybe you sent him away for some reason.”
“Ah, Caitie dear.” Angus’s work-roughened hand encompassed hers. “Jonas loves you. You need to trust him to be here. Understood?” He squeezed her hand when she nodded, then he stood and strode out of the house.
Cait blinked away the excess moisture in her eyes. She’d been trying to trust God. How could she trust Jonas when for so long she’d believed him untrustworthy. God, I want to believe in his love for me, but I can’t. Cait sniffed. If God wanted to give her richly all things to enjoy, then she would trust Him to bring Jonas back. Maybe she couldn’t place her trust in Jonas alone, but she could trust God.
With only a few days left until her wedding, Cait knew she had to work hard to keep from settling into despair. She helped Martha work on the dress, finishing the garment in plenty of time. She’d never been one for caring about clothes, but the touch of the silky dress made her feel pretty. What would Jonas say when he saw her on their wedding day. Sadness threatened to descend, and she pushed it away. He would be here. He would.
At the corral, the foal leaped around her mother. Cait couldn’t help laughing as the filly shook her stubby tail. “She’s a pretty little thing, isn’t she?” Her father, just back from some errand in town, leaned against the railing beside her. “Maybe you could have this one for yours. This mama and her baby are like peas in a pod.”
The mother and foal were both dapple gray, a color Cait loved. “We’ll see. Give the filly some time to grow.” She didn’t want to tell her father she couldn’t bear to try to replace Poppy just yet.
“Have you heard anything from Jonas?” Angus angled his head to look at her.
“No.” Cait lost her interest in the foal’s antics. Every day her father asked her if she’d heard from Jonas. She wanted to give up. She wanted to admit he’d never come back to her. She wanted to go to bed and never get up again. “I found that bit of paper in the pasture with my name, but the horses had trampled it so much I couldn’t read the words.”
“Keep hoping, Caitie. He loves you.” Her father said the same words to her every day. Words that meant less each time she heard them.
“I do have a bit of a surprise for you.” Angus paused until Cait looked up at him. He motioned over his shoulder with his chin.
Cait glanced around, and her heart nearly stopped. “Keira.” She whirled around and ran to her sister. Keira hugged her tight, and nothing had felt so good all week. Cait couldn’t stop the tears this time.
“I’m here for you,” Keira whispered against Cait’s hair. “I’m here. Everything will work out. You’ll see.”
Exhaustion made Jonas sway in the saddle. Almost home. Home. He smiled. Thinking of Cait and her dad’s ranch as home warmed him on the inside. He couldn’t wait to see her.
When he’d left, he’d intended to return before today, their wedding day. He’d ridden most of the night to get here, but circumstances had slowed his progress. “Lord, help Cait forgive me for being late.” His arms ached to hold her. After today, she would be all his. His wife. His partner. His lover.
He kneed his horse to try to hurry a bit more. The morning sun climbed toward its peak. A few clouds scudded across the blue sky. In the distance, darker clouds banded together. Jonas prayed that meant rain for this thirsty land. They sure needed a good drenching.
His horse started to turn toward the road that would lead to the Sullivan ranch. Jonas reined him the other direction. He didn’t want to ride right up to the house. He needed to go around behind the barn and come up. Cait would probably be happy to see him no matter how much dirt covered him or how bad he smelled, but Angus might not look so kindly on his new son-in-law showing up for his wedding like this.
The barn was empty. Even the gray and her new foal were outside in a corral. Jonas hurried to put up his mount and latch the barn doors. He had to hurry. Outside, he could hear the people waiting for the wedding to begin. He worked hard and in silence, chafing that the trip home had taken so long.
He finished in record time. Jonas took a deep breath, preparing to step outside. He’d finally gotten to the water without anyone noticing and gotten enough to get a decent, if cold, bath. His new duds were stiff as boards, but he didn’t care. The anticipation of seeing Cait overcame any discomfort.
A crowd had gathered around the porch. Jonas made it to the outskirts of the group and eased his way around. He bit back a grin, excitement making him feel like a boy sneaking out of church to go swim in the pond.
“I’m sorry folks.” Angus’s deep voice quieted the crowd. “I’m afraid there isn’t going to be any wedding today.”
What! Jonas halted in his tracks. Had Cait given up on him? He’d left the note. He’d even sent the telegram.
“Papa. No.” The door closed with a loud crash. “There will be a wedding.”
Jonas worked around until he could see his bride-to-be in a beautiful pale blue dress with tiny beads sewn in a swirling pattern. He drank in the sight of her.
“Cait, Jonas isn’t here. He isn’t coming.” Angus reached out to his daughter.
“He’s coming, Papa. He’ll be here.” Cait’s chin lifted, her determination showing.
“Cait.” Angus looked lost as to how to convince his daughter.
“He’s right, Cait.” Keira stepped outside next to Cait. Jonas smiled. What a wonderful gift for his bride—to see her sister. Angus had told him there would be a surprise coming. He must have been talking about Keira.
“No. You’re wrong.” Cait backed away a step to face Angus and Keira, her hands on her hips. “Jonas will be here. We have to trust God to bring him.”
The whole crowd stood mesmerized by the drama playing out before them. No one noticed as Jonas sidled around until he could almost reach out and touch the hem of Cait’s gown. He wasn’t sure any of them would know him all cleaned up like this anyway.
“Cait, you have to forget him.” Angus stretched out his hand again.
“Cait.” Jonas spoke so low the people next to him didn’t even turn to look. Cait heard. She swung around, her eyes searching the faces below her. Jonas stepped to the side.
“Jonas.” She whispered his name, and nothing ever sounded so good. She grinned. Delight made her glow. He held out his arms. She ran to the edge of the porch and leaped into his embrace.
“Jonas, where were you.” Cait snuggled close.
“I left you a note. Stuck in the door.” Jonas drew back to look down at her. “Didn’t you see it?”
“No.” Cait’s lips pursed, and he had to fight the desire to kiss her. “I went to see you that evening. The note must have blown away. I found some ruined paper.”
“You believed I would come back when you didn’t even see my note?” Jonas thanked God that Cait had believed in him. His heart was so full.
“Where did you go?” Cait pushed away from him, her green eyes darkening a bit.
“I had an errand to run. Took me a bit longer than I expected. I sent a telegram.” Jonas touched her cheek.
“Dewey, at the telegraph office, has been sick. No one else has been able to do the telegrams.” Cait shrugged. “Thank you for trying.” She covered his hand with hers. The crowd seemed to fade away. Jonas felt his breath hitch. He loved this woman so much.
“I have something to show you.” Jonas captured her hand in his. “The reason for my errand.”
“These people are waiting to see the wedding.” Cait gestured at those gathered around.
“This won’t take long.” Jonas kissed her fingers. “Please.” He gave her a wink.
“Okay, but if I get this dress dirty, Keira and Martha will have my hide… and yours.” Cait grinned.
Jonas led her to the barn. Behind them he heard Angus telling the people to wait. Jonas figured Angus and Keira would be right behind them. Maybe half the town, too.
They stepped into the barn, and a horse nickered. Cait gasped. Her mouth fell open. She looked at Jonas, picked up her skirts, and flew down the aisle to the biggest stall. She stopped, her hands over her mouth. Jonas caught up in time to see tears welling in her eyes.
“Poppy.” Poppy stuck her head out, ribbons trailing down her mane. Cait laughed and threw her arms around the mare.
“Jonas. How?” Cait turned to throw her arms around him. Angus and Keira stopped beside them. “How?” Cait asked again.
“I told you I had a little nest egg saved up to buy some stock someday.” Jonas couldn’t help kissing Cait on the forehead. “Turns out Poppy didn’t like Lawson any more than we do. She gave him all kinds of trouble, and he didn’t argue much about parting with her.”
“You did this for me?” Cait cupped his face in her palms.
“Of course.” Jonas gave her a light kiss. “Cait, I’m crazy about you.” He grinned. “Now, let’s go get married.”