A Bride for Keeps by Melissa Jagears Page A

from under her petticoats as
     she pretended Emma was too far to reach, causing the toddler to giggle uncontrollably.
     Rachel, John, and Ambrose echoed the laughter.
    He cleared his throat.
    Julia bumped her head on the underside of the table. “Oh!”
    The boys snickered before their mother’s warning glare shushed them.
    Julia’s hair was a mess, half of it fallen out of her updo. Why couldn’t she keep
     herself properly made up? A prim woman would help him keep his thoughts where they
     ought to be. Especially since she’d never answered his marriage proposal, not the
     day he asked, not the three days since. He had no right to think so warmly about another
     woman who’d decided against him.
    He cleared his throat again. “Miss Lockwood, this is Mrs. Parker. I’m not sure if
     you’ve met.”
    Arms splayed, Rachel strode over and hugged Helga. “I hope you’ve brought needlework
     or something to keep your hands busy.”
    At Helga’s nod, Everett headed back to the men.
    The image of Julia sitting on the floor rubbing her head, lower lip pouting, taunted
     him.
    “Everett!” Julia’s lilting voice stopped him midstride.
    He turned and waited for her.
    “I was hoping to help outside.”
    “What?” It was hard enough seeing her in his cabin, but for her to be outside with
     him the entire day? He took a breath to calm himself.
    “Well, I don’t really do needlework, and Rachel can teach me some other time. I’m
     not needed until lunch. So I thought I could help out here.” Her hands rested on her
     hips as she surveyed the working men. A bright smile settled on her face.
    He assessed her dress, which was barely serviceable, and the bonnet in her hand wasn’t
     the least practical. Why’d she think he needed her help when seven men were there
     to do the carpentry? But then, he couldn’t steal glances at her loveliness if she
     remained inside. He bit the inside of his cheek. He didn’t need to spend any more
     time absorbed in her looks than he already did. If he couldn’t enjoy them later, then
     he shouldn’t enjoy them now.
    He cleared his throat. “You aren’t a skilled woodworker by chance?”
    Her lips bunched to the side. “No, but I can work hard, do whatever needs to be done.”
     She shrugged. “Maybe hand nails to the men?”
    “John or Ambrose could do that. Wouldn’t you rather talk with the women?”
    Her cheeks flushed. “I’m not saying it wouldn’t be nice, but I am here to . . .” She
     shrugged. “To help you.”
    His insides churned. Had he been wrong? Maybe her silence hadn’t been an answer. But
     she still sounded undecided. Well, maybe he was undecided too. He needed a woman who
     could do farm chores as well as attend things in the house. Could she prove today
     that her tiny frame was up to the task?
    She tipped her head toward the barn. “I’d like to help.”
    What would the men think if he allowed her to help? She distracted him more than he
     was comfortable with, and perhaps the men would not welcome her in their midst. He
     followed her gaze toward the construction site, where the sound of work had receded.
     The Stantons were still pounding nails, but the others had stopped and formed a ragged
     line in front of the woodpile, their gazes fixed on Julia. Ned’s slanted smile and
     Axel’s sly grin made Everett want to send them home. “I don’t think—”
    Caleb Langston, a gangly fourteen-year-old, swept his hat off and nodded past him.
     “Good morning, ma’am.”
    Everett glanced back at Julia. Her dazzling smile as she answered Caleb sucked the
     wind from his chest. Her lit face could not fail to have the same effect on the young
     lad.
    No more time to waste deciding—they needed the whole day to get the frame up before
     nightfall. He waved his hand toward her. “Miss Lockwood, this is Caleb Langston. His
     brother, Axel, and father, Jedidiah. This other man is my neighbor, Ned Parker.”
    Axel’s hungry eyes beamed. “It’s