Free Friends and Enemies by Stephen A. Bly

“Almost as if it were the Lord’s timing. You don’t suppose He burns down buildings, do you?”
    Robert reached out and took her hand. “I don’t think so.”
    She held onto his fingers. “So, are you going to take the job?”
    â€œYes, I believe so.” He tugged her over until she sat on his knee.
    â€œBelieve so?” She slipped her arm around his neck. “You mean, you’ll take it if your family gives you permission? Robert, you need to decide on your own. Don’t ask them what you should do. Tell them what you decided.”
    His arm encircled her waist. “Jamie Sue . . .”
    â€œOh, are we going to start up where we left off downtown?”
    â€œJamie Sue, I cannot be the way you want me to be. I am the youngest son in a family that dominates western South Dakota. I have to do this my way. No decision I make is completely separate from my family.”
    She remained perched on his knee. “Do you promise to decide what you know in your heart to be right?”
    He reached over and brushed a strand of her brown hair out of her eyes. “I promise you.”
    â€œThen I will accept that.” She held his hand to her cheek. His calloused fingers felt warm.
    â€œThank you,” he replied.
    â€œYou’re welcome.”
    Jamie Sue started to giggle.
    â€œIs something funny?”
    â€œWhy is it we couldn’t have this nice friendly discussion in the presence of your family, instead of yelling and pouting at each other?”
    â€œWe didn’t yell and pout,” he insisted.
    â€œWe most certainly did.”
    â€œThat is not what I call yelling and pouting.”
    Jamie Sue leaned back but kept his hand at her cheek. “What do you call it?”
    â€œWe were a tad argumentative and surly.”
    â€œWhich is a man’s way of saying ‘yell and pout’?”
    He smiled. “That’s correct.”
    She looped both hands around his thick, muscular neck. “Is it time to kiss and make up?”
    â€œI think you took care of that in public.”
    â€œOh, no, Robert Fortune, you promised we would wait to kiss and make up in private! Everyone knows that Fortune men always keep their word. And this is very, very private.”
    â€œWell, if you put it that way, I guess I’ll have to . . .”
    â€œHave to?” she pulled away.
    â€œEh, want to.”
    â€œReally want to?”
    â€œReally, really, really want to.”
    She snuggled back up to where her lips were within two inches of his. “That’s better . . .”
    His lips had just pressed against hers, and she was wishing they had closed the living room curtains and locked the front door, when there was a stiff knock.
    They jumped to their feet. Jamie Sue brushed down her dress.
    â€œIs that the kids?” he probed.
    Jamie Sue peeked out the front window. “It’s someone with a freight wagon.”
    â€œIs the railroad bringing our trunks? Maybe they have them after all.” Todd swung the front door open to find a short man with broad shoulders. Another man waited out near the team of mules that were hitched to the wagon.
    â€œAre you the new Fortunes?” he asked.
    â€œI suppose you could say that. I’m Robert Fortune.”
    The man glanced down at the invoice. “I’m lookin’ for a Miss Veronica Ruth Fortune and Miss Patricia Sarah Fortune.”
    â€œThey aren’t home at the moment,” Jamie Sue explained.
    â€œI’ve got a big delivery here from Central Furniture,” the man announced. “Shall we bring it in through the front door?”
    Robert rubbed his clean-shaven chin. It felt flushed. “I don’t think we ordered anything yet.”
    â€œNo, sir . . . these items was paid for by Brazos Fortune. He said the girls were his daughters, or maybe it was granddaughters; he wasn’t too clear on that.”
    â€œThey are our