Jesse by Barbara Goss (namjoon book recommendations txt) 📕

He took a tablecloth from his saddlebag and spread it out.  Charlie sat while he went back into this saddlebag for a bundle, which she assumed was their lunch.

“Jesse, this place is beautiful.”

“I thought we could use some privacy today.”

“Privacy, from whom?” she asked, though she thought she knew.

“Delia, of course.”

Charlie elbowed him.  “You’re joking, right?”

“No.  Don’t get me wrong—I like Delia, but I wanted a quiet lunch today.”

“But isn’t she your... aren’t you courting her?”

“No, we’re just friends.  I was attracted to her at first, but... well, lunch with her every single day gets smothering.”

Charlie was pleased that Jesse wasn’t courting her.  Delia wouldn’t have liked their traveling to Cheyenne together, either.

“I think she has more than friendship on her mind, Jesse.  I could see the jealousy in her eyes when we first met.”

Jesse sighed.  “For the past ten years, I haven’t been too socially active.  I slept in caves and woods.  Sometimes, I didn’t see another person for months.  What I’m getting at is, I don’t know all the rules of society. By having lunch with Delia every day, did you mean that I was courting her?”

Charlie hesitated, wanting to give him the best answer.  “No, not really.  Although, in a small town like this, being seen with the same woman too many times could start a rumor that you were courting her, but since your lunches were private, I think you’re safe.”

“So, can't a man have female friends without it being called courting?”

Charlie laughed.  “I don’t think it happens much in this town.  There aren’t that many women deemed suitable for courting.”

“The saloon is full of pretty women,” Jesse said.

“I told Sean and Sophia about Delia’s offer to get me a job at The Rusty Spur Saloon.  After they calmed down they told me that decent women in the community didn’t speak to saloon women, not even a passing hello.”

“I wasn’t aware of that,” Jesse said as he packed up the remnants of their picnic.  “In some towns like El Paso and Cheyenne there are houses called brothels. Those women are the ones I thought decent people stayed away from.”

“According to Sophia, saloon women are loose women who earn money by flirting outrageously with men.  That, according to my sister, is not proper or socially acceptable behavior.

“Sophia also said women who work in saloons could never marry a decent man.  Not that I’m interested in marriage.”

“Why don’t you want to marry someday?” Jesse asked.

“Because most husbands have to be the boss, and the wives are nothing more to them than glorified housekeepers and baby factories.”

“I guess I’ve been away too long.”  Jesse stuffed the lunch bag into his saddlebag. He returned to the tablecloth and said, “What should we do now?  We still have an entire hour.”

“Let’s take off our shoes and socks and wade in the brook,” Charlie suggested.

Jesse laughed, but then he said, “Sure, why not?”

The couple danced in the cold water, but they didn’t stay in long.  Jesse moved the tablecloth into the sun, and they laid on it so their feet and legs could dry.

“Do you ever wear a dress?” Jesse asked.  “I’ve never seen you in one.”

“I had one on at the wedding, but I don’t think you gave me a second glance.”

“Oh, yes. I do remember.  Not that you don’t look fetching in pants.”

“I’m not wearing pants.  It’s a split skirt riding outfit.”

“Looks like pants to me.”

She squinted up at him since the sun was shining on her. “If you’d come to church on Sunday’s, you’d see me in a dress.”

Jesse sprang up. “Church?  No, not me.”

“Don’t you believe in God, Jesse?”

“Um... er...  I never gave it much thought.  I think there must be someone in charge, but I  know nothing about religion.  I ran into a Bible-thumping, circuit-riding preacher once on the trail.  We roasted a pheasant together.  He preached and preached to me, but I fell asleep.  We parted in the morning, but before he left, the preacher said, ‘I’ll be praying for your soul, Jesse Morgan.’”

“Sophia has Sean going to church.  He seems to like it well enough.”

“Just between you and me? I can’t go to church or have anything to do with religion because I’ve killed men.”

“But—” Charlie tried to tell him about God’s forgiveness, but Jesse cut her off.

“It’s time to go back,” he said. He helped her to stand before packing the tablecloth away.

Sophia sat on the settee with her head on Sean’s shoulder.  “Do you think Jesse and Charlie could come to love each other on the trip to Cheyenne?”

“Yes, I do.”  Sean kissed the top of her head.  Sophia and Sean had become closer lately, but they still hadn't consummated their marriage. Sean thought it might happen when Charlie was on her way to Cheyenne.

“Hmm.” Sophia moved closer to Sean.  “That would be perfect.  I’d still have my sister living in Sunset Creek but not in our house.  She’d live with Jesse as his wife.  I hope it happens.”

“I’ve been praying that it will,” Sean said.

“You’re praying?”

“Yes.  You’re a good influence on me.  I enjoyed the church services, too.”

“Oh, Sean!  That’s wonderful.  I think we should start praying before we eat, too.”

“That would be all right as long as the prayers are short since I’m usually starving.”

They both laughed, and Sean pulled her closer.

Jesse packed his necessities for the trip to Cheyenne.  They were to leave the day after next.  He’d stopped at Judd’s to ensure Judd would keep an eye on his place while he traveled.  He opened his private safe which was hidden inside a high, empty kitchen cupboard and removed twenty dollars.  He thought it would be