That Healing Touch (Cutter's Creek, Book 1) Read online

  “This is still a risk, cousin. There’s no guarantee she’ll love me one day. Remember, I’m trying to be rational about this. You and Mary made some valid points when we talked. Having a wife will help get my life normal and grounded again – with the good Lord’s help, of course.”

  “Of course,” Howard said with a smile. He went to where Jack sat and gave him a friendly slap on the back. “Let me be first to tell you congratulations! Have you told Mary?”

  “No, I just spoke with Willow. Funny, she did seem rather stoic about the whole thing. Perhaps I shocked her. Either that or she’s just being as practical about it as I am.”

  “Could be,” Howard agreed. “But she knows why she was brought here. We all figured you were bound to come around sometime.”

  “Well, I do try to please,” Jack retorted. “I guess in truth, what it really came down to was I didn’t want to go through life alone. Willow and I talked about loneliness the day I was to help you with that sermon. I decided I deserved a little happiness too. There’s nothing wrong with that, now is there?”

  “No, Jack, there’s not. And I’m glad to see that you stopped punishing yourself because of your blindness. Being blind doesn’t make you any less of a man. It just means you have to live life differently is all.”

  Jack nodded. “I think I understand that now. But for quite a while I thought that if I’d lost my old life, I didn’t want to live at all. That was wrong of me. I put Mary, Willow and you through a lot. I apologize.”

  “Forgiven. Now I must find Mary and tell her the news! You’ll be fine here?”

  “Yes, let me sit here for a while and enjoy the quiet. I imagine Mary’s getting supper ready?”

  “Perhaps. I wonder if Willow already told her,” Howard said. “Blast! I wanted to be the one to do it!”

  “Maybe if you hurry, you’ll still get your chance.”

  Howard nodded his agreement and hastened out of the office. Jack listened to him leave, then stretched his legs in front of him, leaned back in the chair, his hands behind his head, and sighed in satisfaction. “Did I finally do okay, Lord?” He slowly nodded to himself. “Well, let’s just hope I don’t lose my head and say or do anything stupid before I get married.” He turned his head upward. “You’ll help me with that, won’t you?”

  A peaceful silence was the only answer. It was enough.

  Willow stuffed her belongings into her satchel, straightened and wrapped her shawl more tightly about her shoulders. She was cold, and had been ever since Jack had informed her of his plans. She hadn’t thought about what was to become of her after she left, and feared the unknown. True, she had the money Jack paid her, enough to get her to Seattle, but what then? That money would only last so long. What if she couldn’t find a job right away?

  Maybe she should talk to Mary and Howard before she left. But she was so heartsick she didn’t want to talk to anyone. She just wanted to be alone. A good cry might do her wonders. But she should be downstairs helping Mary prepare supper, and that didn’t leave time to mope.

  A sound from downstairs caught her attention. She opened the bedroom door and peeked into the hall. Someone was knocking on the front door. “Mary?” she called, but there was no answer.

  Well, no help for it then. She hurried downstairs to the front door and opened it. “Hello, may I help you?” The words were out before she got a good look at who was standing on the other side.

  A very tall man with long brown hair and dark, piercing eyes stared down at her. He wore a hat and a long duster, with a red bandanna tied around his neck. He looked as if he’d been on the trail for days. “Howdy,” he said in a gravelly voice. “I’m lookin’ for a Jack Carlson.”

  “Oh yes. Wait right there – I’ll fetch him for you.” She shut the door, turned and headed down the hall before she realized she had no idea where Jack was. Not only that, she’d forgotten to ask the man his name. She turned around, hurried back and opened the door again. “I’m sorry, and you are?”

  “Mr. Lucius Judrow, ma’am. I’m here on behalf of the Honorable Senator James Dixon of Connecticut.”

  Willow was speechless. She took a few steps back as she gathered her wits. “Senator Dixon? Oh my goodness, you’re here about Emma!”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Come in, come in!” she said, motioning him inside. “Have a seat in the parlor – I’ll go fetch Jack right away!”

  Mr. Judrow tipped his hat and stepped into the parlor. Willow didn’t bother to seat him, but barreled down the hall and into the kitchen. It was empty. Everyone must be in the church. She went out the back door, hurried across the yard and straight for the church office. When she got there she burst through the door. “Jack!”

  Startled, Jack jumped and almost fell out of his chair. “Great Scott, woman! What is it? What’s wrong?”

  Willow tried to catch her breath. “There’s a man in the house …”

  Jack jumped to his feet. “What? Where’s my gun?”

  “No, not that kind of man.” She then remembered what Mr. Judrow was wearing. “Well, maybe a little – but that doesn’t matter. He’s here to see you about Emma!”

  “Emma?” Jack gulped a few breaths before his face broke into a wide grin. “Emma!” He held out his hand. “Thank you, Willow, thank you for telling me! Lead the way!”

  She took his hand, tears in her eyes. She was happy for him, more than she thought she would be. One more telltale sign she was in love with him … for all the good it did her.

  She led him back to the house and into the parlor where Mr. Judrow was perched on the settee. “Here he is,” she announced. “Mr. Judrow, this is Jack Carlson. Jack, Mr. Lucius Judrow. Senator Dixon sent him.”

  Jack let go of Willow’s hand and offered it to Mr. Judrow. “What’s this about Emma? Do you know where she is?”

  Mr. Judrow stood, took two steps to his left and shook his hand. “I’m afraid I don’t know yet, but we have a few leads. Enough to convince Senator Dixon to send me to you.” He looked at Willow. “He also sends his condolences, Miss Bennett.”

  Willow put a hand to her chest. “How did you know who I was?”

  “A gut feeling.” He turned back to Jack. “Word has it she’s in Oregon, if the leads are sound. I was tracking some outlaws in the Nebraska Territory when the senator got hold of me.”

  “Outlaws?” Jack said. “Are you a bounty hunter?”

  Mr. Judrow shrugged. “I’m a lot of things, Mr. Carlson. Bounty hunter, mercenary, call me what you will. But I’ve got a nose for findin’ people.”

  Willow noted how Jack sidestepped, putting her behind him. The man might be blind, but he was ready to fight if he had to. Though she could see the calm look on Mr. Judrow’s face – he was no threat. Jack was simply following his own instincts.

  “That’s a handy skill to have,” Jack commented.

  “It makes me a livin’.”

  Jack nodded and held out his hand. “Willow, help me sit down.”

  The excitement must have him disoriented, she thought to herself. She guided him to a chair and helped him sit. Mr. Judrow retook his seat and waited. “What leads do you have?” Jack asked.

  “Word has it your sister joined a wagon train headin’ west last summer. That would put her in Portland, Oregon around September of last year.”

  “How do you know that?” Jack asked. “Who would she be traveling with?”

  Mr. Judrow took a deep breath, as if to brace himself. “My source tells me that a girl matchin’ your sister’s description was with a large group of women.”

  Jack’s face froze. “No …”

  “Women headin’ west to find work, Mr. Carlson.”

  “No, no, no!”

  “It is what it is, Mr. Carlson. The war took a lot of men. Now I assume you want me to find your sister and bring her back to you?”

  Jack swallowed hard and turned his face away from him. “Emma … no, no, not you. Not my Emma …”

  Willow saw the angu
ish on his face, went to his chair, bent down and hugged him. “Jack, I’m sorry. But at least she’s alive.”

  Jack closed his eyes and gripped Willow’s arm. “Yes. I should be grateful for that.”

  “I know this must be a shock, Mr. Carlson,” Judrow continued. “But actually, the work they were headin’ west for was not necessarily of an unsavory nature.”

  Jack’s head snapped around to him. “What are you saying?”

  “Those women all lost their menfolk, men who had businesses. They left to start business afresh, is what I’m sayin’.”

  “You mean, she’s not some saloon girl?” Jack asked. “Or …”

  “Never said she was. Never even meant to imply it.”

  Jack gripped Willow’s other arm. “Ha! Did you hear that?”

  “Of course,” Mr. Judrow continued. “I don’t know exactly what she’s doin’ now …”

  Jack ignored the remark. “Find her. Bring her to me. I don’t care what she’s doing. You find my sister and bring her back here.”

  “I will,” Mr. Judrow stated. “This bein’ my business, however, I do have some paperwork.” He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out an envelope. “Miss Bennett can read to you my conditions, fee, so on and so forth.”

  Willow took the paper from him, glanced at it, then turned to Jack. “Do you want to go over this in private?”

  “No, right here is fine.”

  “All right.”

  “What’s going on?” Howard asked as he came into the parlor, Mary close behind. “I had no idea we had company.”

  “Where have you been?” Willow asked.

  “An unexpected visit to Mrs. Black next door – her little boy is sick.” He looked at Mr. Judrow. “And you are?”

  “Lucius Judrow, at your service, Reverend.”

  “Senator Dixon sent him to find Emma for Jack,” Willow explained.

  Howard and Mary’s eyes lit with excitement. “Well now, that is news! This makes two happy occasions on the same day!”

  Willow looked at him in confusion. “Really? What’s the other one?”

  All eyes turned to her except Mr. Judrow’s, which had just found the candy dish on the table. Howard broadly grinned. “Why, your wedding, of course!”

  12

  Willow stood in shock. “My wedding?”

  Howard and Mary exchanged a look. “Of course, dear,” Mary said. “As soon as you and Jack decide on a date, we’ll get it done.”

  Her knees buckled. Mr. Judrow sprang up and caught her before she went down.

  Jack heard his movement and stood, unsure of what was happening. “Willow?”

  “It’s all right, Jack,” Howard assured. “Mr. Judrow has her.”

  “Has her?!” Jack barked. “And may I inquire why, and more importantly how, he has her?”

  “He’s carrying her to the settee, Jack,” Mary said. “There’s nothing to worry about.”

  “The settee! That tells me there’s plenty to worry about!”

  “Are you okay, ma’am?” Mr. Judrow asked in his deep voice. “Can I get you a cup of water or anythin’?”

  “Water?” Jack exclaimed. “Great Scott! Did she faint?”

  “I believe so, yes,” Mr. Judrow drawled.

  “Jack?” came Willow’s soft voice.

  “Yes, I’m here.” He made it to the settee, dropped to one knee, found her hand and held it tight. “Are you all right? What happened?”

  “I … wedding! What wedding?” She got herself to a sitting position. “I thought I was leaving.”

  “Leaving?” Jack, Howard and Mary said in unison.

  “Sounds like a good idea,” Mr. Judrow drawled. “Maybe I ought to …”

  “No!” everyone cried.

  “Well then.” Mr. Judrow glanced around the room, shrugged, then eyed the candy dish again. “I have a bit of a sweet tooth – do you mind if I …?”

  “Go ahead,” Mary replied.

  “Thank you kindly.” He plucked out a lemon drop and began quietly sucking on it.

  “Willow, what’s the matter? Why would you leave?” Jack asked.

  She sat, stunned at his words. “Because … you told me to, that’s why!”

  “I did no such thing!”

  “Of course you did! Not more than a few hours ago!”

  “What? Are you out of your mind?”

  Mr. Judrow, Howard and Mary watched the two combatants with extreme interest. Well, Howard and Mary watched. Mr. Judrow was more interested in the candy dish. He selected a wintergreen disk.

  “I said nothing to you about leaving!”

  “You most certainly did!” she shot back.

  “What could I have possibly said to make you think that?” he demanded.

  “You said, and I quote …” She stopped. “Uh … you said …”

  Jack folded his arms in front of him. “Go on.”

  “Wait, give me a minute …”

  “I’ll give you something better than that.” He took her hands in his and pulled her to her feet.

  “What are you doing? I …” She never got to finish. Jack pulled her against him, wrapped one arm around her waist and kissed her like a starving man.

  Mary gasped. Howard smiled. Mr. Judrow had the candy dish in his hand by this time and was considering a peppermint stick.

  Jack broke the kiss. “You silly woman! How could you ever think that I’d send you away?”

  Willow was breathless. “Because … you … I ….”

  “Yes, dear, you what?” he asked, cocking his head at an angle as if to hear her better.

  “I … must have misunderstood.”

  Jack shook his head then smiled. “Exactly.”

  “But I thought …”

  “I don’t know what you thought, but it wasn’t what I intended,” he said.

  “I thought you wanted me to leave. That you didn’t need me anymore.”

  “You thought wrong.”

  Howard’s eyes bulged at the exchange. He absently reached for the candy dish in Mr. Judrow’s hand, grabbed a horehound drop and popped it into his mouth.

  “Jack, I’m so sorry, but, maybe it’s best if I …”

  She never got to finish, as he kissed her again. When he finally broke it, he said, “ … marry me?”

  “What?” she whispered as her eyes filled with tears.

  “Good grief, woman, it’s bad enough I’m blind, but are you deaf? I said, marry me!”

  “M-m-marry you?”

  “Yes! That’s what this is about, isn’t it?”

  “Well, I see Jack is his old self again,” Howard muttered to his wife.

  Mary tittered.

  “This is no laughing matter!” Jack snapped. “I’m trying to profess my love to this woman and you’re giggling!”

  Mary clamped a hand over her mouth, but kept laughing.

  “Stop that!” Jack cried in dismay.

  Howard did his best to stop himself, but fell into a raucous guffaw.

  “Oh for Pete’s sake,” Jack said and threw his free hand in the air.

  “What was that you said?” Willow asked in a small voice.

  “About what?” Jack called over his cousin’s laughter. “Oh, will you two get a hold of yourselves?!”

  “About … professing your love?” she asked, her voice louder.

  That’s not all that got louder. Howard and Mary were laughing so hard that tears began to spill from their eyes. Even Mr. Judrow started to chortle around the candy cane in his mouth.

  “I said I love you!” Jack shouted over the laughter.

  Willow’s eyes widened. “You do?”

  “Yes, consarnit, I do! Which is why I want to marry you!”

  Willow opened her mouth to speak, but instead laughed.

  Jack almost dropped her when her knees gave way and she slid from his arms to the settee. “Lord have mercy, you too? Can’t you people stop this confounded … oh bother!” Jack sat next to Willow and let loose himself. The situation
was amusing, after all.

  Mr. Judrow stood as the two couples laughed themselves silly. “Maybe I ought to come back later … once you’ve calmed down …” Seeing that he had no one’s attention, he headed toward the hall. “I’ll just let myself out?”

  No one paid him any mind – they were still in hysterics. Howard kept doubling over, gasping for breath while Mary found a chair and sat.

  “You got the contract to go over,” Mr. Judrow went on. “I’ll see about a room at the boardin’ house. You can reach me there.” He turned to leave, noted he still held the candy dish, then emptied the remaining contents into his pocket and set the dish on the hall table. “Much obliged for the sweets.” By the time any of them took note, he was gone.

  “Merciful heavens, where’d he go?” Mary asked as she wiped the tears from her eyes.

  Howard laughed again. “Boarding house! I heard him!” He gasped for more breath and sought the other chair.

  Willow was wrapped in Jack’s arms, smiling brightly. “Are we all calm now?”

  “Good heavens, I hope so,” Jack grumbled, exasperated.

  “Good,” Willow said. She then put a hand behind his head, brought his face to hers and kissed him.

  Mary sat in stunned silence. Howard shrugged. “Here we go again.”

  Willow broke the kiss. “I love you too, Jack,” she said softly.

  Jack smiled and returned the sentiment, and the kiss.

  Howard and Mary exchanged a look of satisfaction. Then Howard gave his wife a wink. “See?” he whispered. “I told you everything would work out.”

  Mary smiled. “Not quite everything, dear. But it’s a start.”

  Three days later …

  “Jack, you may now kiss the bride.”

  Jack tucked a finger under Willow’s chin and guided her mouth to his. It was easier than doing things the other way around and trying to find her lips first. They shared a long, leisurely kiss, much to the townsfolk’s delight, to seal the vows they’d just taken.

  When Jack finally came up for air, the cheering began in force. “Congratulations!” a woman cried from the crowd.

  “Mrs. Petroff,” Willow informed him.

  “Thank you. You’ll have to keep doing that the rest of the afternoon, I’m afraid. I wasn’t very social when I came to town. Everyone knew who I was, but I haven’t got a clue who they are.”