Free Jewel by Beverly Jenkins

blossom.” She eyed him in the darkness. “Give her time. Maybe use some of that legendary charm I keep hearing so much about.”
    Embarrassment caused his head to drop. “If I tried that she’d probably blast me with her bird gun. I’ll opt for appealing to her logic for now.”
    “Whatever you think is best.” She placed her hand affectionately over his. “You’ve done a good thing here this evening, Eli. The reward will come.”
    “Let’s hope you’re right.” He sighed wistfully. “We can hardly act married if she’s living here.”
    “She may have a change of heart come morning.”
    Again, he didn’t think so, but rather than beat a dead horse he stood then leaned down to give her a soft kiss on her cheek. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    “Good night, son.”
     
    That next morning, Jewel woke up in a foul mood. Because she’d tossed and turned all night she’d hadn’t gotten a lick of sleep. As she set breakfast on the table for her brothers, they took one look at her sternly set face and didn’t say a word outside of “Good morning.” No one wanted the storm to break over them. In light of that, they ate as quickly as their stomachs would allow, then hightailed it out of the house for the drive to work.
    Alone in the house, Jewel finished up the dishes then sat at the table to sip her coffee andto mull over her fate. Eli kept sliding into her thoughts and she kept pushing him away. She didn’t want to think of him any more than she wanted to think about them being man and wife. Having to face the questions and the inevitable congratulations sure to come from the Grove’s residents was something else she wanted to avoid, even as the parts of herself that had been sweet on Eli were quietly elated by yesterday’s turn of events. But the practical, no-nonsense Jewel was appalled by that side of herself, and was determined to keep those silly feelings from growing and taking charge. She needed to be stoic and emotionless if she were to survive until the divorce. Otherwise all she had to look forward to was a broken heart, and she refused to be that woman.
    With that in mind, she put her empty cup in the sink and went out to the barn to get the roses she planned to plant for Maddie.
     
    Eli awakened with Jewel on his mind, and although he knew he had no business doing so, he thought about what it might be like to awaken with her warm against his side. He’d bet he was the only married man in creation ever to spend his wedding night alone. Grim but resigned he got out of bed to get ready for his day.
    On his way into town, he set aside thoughts of his recalcitrant wife and focused his attention on the meeting with Hicks. At least he would nolonger be lying about having a wife, he thought sarcastically. Redirecting his mind away from his marriage again, his first hope was that Hicks would purchase new printing presses for the Gazette . The one presently in the office, an Albion handpress, was an 1862 model that he kept running with rigged parts and prayer. With a proper press, he could produce a proper paper formatted more in line with the times, thus making it more attractive to the advertisers that kept a paper afloat. Maybe by year’s end, if the new Gazette proved to be a success, he might even turn enough of a profit to repay some of his creditors. Obviously he was putting the cart in front of the horse but as his mother was fond of saying, If you don’t have dreams, they won’t come true.
    Hicks was waiting for him on the Quilt Ladies’ porch. “Is there somewhere else we can meet, Grayson? Mrs. Ross is making a pest of herself. Keeps going on about her late husband as if she wants me to take the poor man’s place.”
    “Let’s use the mayor’s office.”
    As they walked back down Main Street, Hicks asked, “How’s your wife this morning? Feeling better I hope.”
    “Much better,” Eli lied. “Thanks for asking.”
    They passed a few people on the walk and acknowledged them with