Chapter 10
The persistent ringing of Leah’s alarm clock awakened her the next morning. She turned it off, yawned, stretched, rolled over …
And stared at the snoring hound in bed next to her. Not quite the face she wanted to see the minute she opened her eyes. She’d much rather stare into Jesse’s handsome face.
She snuggled deeper under the quilt and thought over the lovely afternoon yesterday. She’d enjoyed it when Jesse folded her hand into his and when he held her in his arms, safe and secure from a world of hurts. And with his blue eyes twinkling and his smile shining through his reddish-blond beard, she forgot all about the cares that so easily beset her.
Then last night, as dusk fell upon the homestead—their homestead—she’d wanted him to kiss her. But something undefined, something indescribable, had held her back from letting him know her true feelings, and Jesse respectfully slept in the barn.
Sarge bounded from the bed, barking at who-knew-what outside the window, nearly scaring the liver out of her.
That dog belonged in the barn. Her husband belonged with her.
At last Leah rolled out of bed. After she dressed and pinned up her hair, she accompanied Jesse outside to watch him feed and groom Patriot. Maybe one day she would learn to ride, even have her own horse. For now, Jesse seemed pleased that she was interested in his chores, and that would have to do for today.
And Jesse made good on his promise to take her to the mercantile.
Inside the store, she leafed through the pages while Jesse and Will walked out back to the lumberyard. So many tubs to choose from. And Jesse didn’t give her a price limit.
In the quiet of the early morning, a loud bell clanged, deep and resounding. It couldn’t be a church or school bell—there wasn’t a church or school in town. Within moments, Jesse and Will raced back into the store.
“Let’s go,” Jesse said, visibly shifting to his sheriff role.
“I can’t imagine what happened. Folks clang the bell only when there’s an urgent public announcement or an emergency,” Emma explained to Leah as they left the store.
Outside on the boardwalk, the townspeople gathered around a short, narrow platform near the livery. Luther Welton stepped up. “Listen up, folks.”
Jesse groaned as the din of the curious crowd dwindled to near silence.
“As you all know, the election for town sheriff is tomorrow morning.”
Mutterings and nods from the townsfolk.
“But what you might not know is why I’m the best man for the job.”
Leah sighed, already bored with the announcement. Selecting a bathtub seemed ever so much more exciting than listening to this nonsense. But Jesse made no move to return to his errands, so Leah stood patiently at his side as Mr. Welton listed off his inflated qualifications.
Nellie came to stand alongside Leah, bouncing baby Henry in her arms, and shortly thereafter Zeb joined them.
“So now that you know about me, let’s talk about Sheriff Waite. You might think you know all there is about the man, but what you don’t know is that he’s a yellow-belly when it comes to crime. Why, he married a common criminal.”
With his words, reality tightened its fist around Leah’s hope. Eyes wide, she raised her gaze to the heavens and then dropped it to the dusty road—looking anywhere but back at that platform or her husband beside her. No, God, please! She’d made a mistake, and she wanted to be the one to tell Jesse, not have him hear it this way! In public. The last thing she ever wanted was to hurt him.
“Luther, this election’s between you and me,” Jesse called, his arms folded over his suede vest. “Leave my wife out of it.”
“It’s true, Jesse.” Her lips trembled as she quietly confessed. She stared up at him, her knees weak. “I was arrested for demonstrating and spent a night in jail. I was going to tell you …”
“I know all about it.” He flicked a glance her way. He was angry, she could tell, but not at her. “I’ve known for some time.”
“You have?” She blinked and managed a shaky smile. “And you still wanted to marry me?”
A soft light entered his eyes. “Course I did. You’re a fine woman. You did nothing wrong back in Newport.”
Jesse’s arm encircled her waist. She sagged against him.
“Good people of One Way, I did some digging.” Welton lifted his hands, looking for all the world like some diabolical preacher. “I found out through an acquaintance of mine in Newport that the new Mrs. Waite is a reg’lar malefactor. She rioted in the streets for a women’s rights movement, turning wives against their husbands, daughters against their fathers.”
No, it wasn’t true—Leah would never have done that!
“A vote for Jesse Waite tomorrow jeopardizes every household in this town!”
“That’s a lie!” Her claim went unheard above the murmuring throng. She looked up at Jesse. In that moment, she knew what she had to do to help her husband win. “I’d like the chance to set the matter straight. Please, may I? Perhaps if people hear the truth from my mouth, they’ll believe it.”
“No, Leah. You’ll only get hurt.”
“No, I won’t. I can face the truth.” God had a purpose, even for her blemished past, and Leah sensed this was it. Now was the time. She thrust her shoulders back with a confidence she’d never experienced before. “Please, Jesse? It might help you win tomorrow.”
“I don’t give a whit about this election. Not if it means you’ll be humiliated.”
“But I won’t be. We have God on our side.”
Jesse pursed his lips, obviously considering the idea. “You sure you want to open yourself to the public like a book?”
“I’m sure. With God directing my paths and your support, I can do anything.”
He inclined his head in silent acquiescence then led her through the crowd to the platform. Jesse jumped onto it and helped Leah up. “Folks, you heard what Luther had to say. Now my wife would like to speak.”
She glanced around, silently praying the townsfolk would listen. “In part, Mr. Welton is correct. I was arrested for demonstrating for women’s rights … but only because men like him have oppressed women for thousands of years. But I, in no way, condone the idea of women usurping their husband’s authority in the home.” Leah looked at Jesse. “I’m not sorry that I stood up for women’s rights, but I regret that my actions brought shame to my family, my husband …”
“There’s no shame in what you did, Leah.” Jesse stepped forward and draped his arm around her shoulders. “Folks, thirty-six women demonstrated that day in Newport. Authorities, like Luther’s friend, incarcerated them, keeping them away from their homes and families overnight and violating their constitutional right to legal counsel.”
“Now, wait just a minute here—”
“The charges against my wife and the others were dropped.” Jesse ignored Welton’s attempt to cut in. “The coordinator of the event had a permit for the assembly. But in order to make sure additional demonstrations didn’t occur, bureaucrats printed the ladies’ names in the local newspaper, thoroughly humiliating them.”
Leah was amazed that Jesse not only knew about the incident but also its details.
“As a result, Leah suffered unnecessary consequences. Her aunt and uncle convinced her to come out here, and …” He smiled that smile she’d learned to love on her first day in One Way. “Well, I wasn’t going to pass up the chance to make a fine lady my wife.”
“Won’t help you win the election, Jess,” a man in the crowd hollered.
Some agreed, including Welton.
“Doesn’t matter. I already won the prize when I married Leah.”
His words filled her heart in a dizzying way.
“If Luther Welton becomes sheriff,” Jesse warned, “you can be sure he’ll make examples of whomever he pleases.”
“We agree on that much, Sheriff. I won’t tolerate any disturbances, especially from women!”
“Even if it violates their rights?”
“Don’t put words in my mouth. Law-abiding folks have nothing to fear from me.”
“Just as long as it’s your law they follow.” Amid more murmurings from the crowd, Jesse helped Leah off the platform. “We’ve said all we have to say. I hope you all search your hearts before tomorrow’s election and then vote as your consciences dictate.”
“I’m proud of you, boy.” Mrs. Rigley rapped Jesse’s arm as he passed her. “You, too, Mrs. Waite.”
At least Leah had won over the older woman. Now, if only her admission helped her husband win tomorrow, all would be well in One Way.
“How can you sit there so calmly?” Leah placed her hands at her waist as she regarded Jesse, sitting on the porch, his booted feet on the railing, and leisurely reading a newspaper. “The election results will be in any moment.”
“Buzzing around here like a bee in a flower garden ain’t going to change the way men voted today.”
“Are you saying that I buzz?”
He peeked over his paper. “No, just saying—”
“I’ve got a bee in my bonnet?”
He laughed, perhaps with a good amount of relief, realizing she teased him. “Come sit down.” Leaning over, he patted the chair beside his.
And he was right, of course. She worried needlessly. God had everything under control, as always.
“Sorry I wasn’t home much yesterday.”
“That’s all right.” She’d fallen asleep before he got home, and Jesse had respectfully spent another night in the barn.
“Lots of dangerous criminals to apprehend.”
“Really?” Between chores and errands today, they hadn’t talked much about yesterday.
“The culprit, the Bentleys’ cow, got loose and trampled Mrs. O’Connor’s cabbage patch. A felony, according to Mrs. O’Connor. I ended up fixing the fence, and the Bentleys insisted on feeding me supper.”
“All in a day’s work, Sheriff?” Leah smiled.
“Without a shot fired.”
They shared a laugh.
“Have I told you that I’m proud of you and what you did yesterday?”
“Yes.” Only a dozen times.
After breakfast this morning, they’d strolled to the bank, where the voting took place. Jesse cast his ballot and then it was off to the mercantile. Leah selected her bathtub, a claw-foot white enamel and cast-iron monstrosity that any Rhode Islander would covet. But, oddly, her new bathtub paled in comparison to her new husband. He consumed nearly all her waking thoughts.
“When do you think the votes will be tabulated?” As the last syllable tumbled off her tongue, the town bell clanged.
The election results were in.
Reverend Bigelow held up his hands to silence the crowd gathering around the platform. “Everyone … your attention, please.”
Leah gazed up at the minister, her husband at her side. Four days ago, she couldn’t have cared less about the election for sheriff, but now she was deeply concerned and yet quietly confident, too.
“We’ve counted all the votes. The new sheriff of One Way is …”
Leah wove her fingers between Jesse’s. He squeezed her hand affectionately.
“… the incumbent, Jesse Waite.”
A joyous weightlessness overcame Leah as cheers went up around her. Men tossed their hats in the air.
“Come on up and speak, Sheriff.” The reverend waved him onto the platform.
Jesse leaped onto the narrow wooden stage and offered his hand to Leah. Stepping up, she took her place beside him. The cheers continued, and Jesse inclined his head in silent gratitude.
At last the hoopla died down.
“I want to thank everyone who voted for me. As sheriff of One Way, I vow before you today to see that justice is served and the citizens of this town are protected. I also look forward to presenting plans to the town board for a church and school. As I’ve promised, I’ll do my part in negotiating with the railroad so it comes through town and benefits us all.” He gave a nod. “Again, thank you.”
Amid the townsfolk’s applause, Jesse turned to Leah. With a delighted laugh, he took her in his arms and twirled her around.
Had she ever been this happy?
“I love you, Leah.” He whispered the words against her ear.
She pulled back and gazed into his sky-blue eyes. “I love you, Sheriff Jesse Waite.” Amazingly, she meant each word.
Onlookers cheered all the more.
Then he kissed her, an exquisite, gentle kiss filled with hope and promise, as the town bell pealed the news across the land.