Page 102 of Nashville Cowboy
There was a knock on the door, and when she opened it, there stood Jolette Marie looking like a drowned cat. Lillian had never been happier to see her.
“Brenda said you were lookin’ for this.” She held a cardboard box.
She waved the poor wet woman inside. “Come in.”
“Thanks,” she said, shutting the door. “I got caught in the shower. One minute, it’s dry, the next a monsoon.”
Lillian quirked a brow. “Now, honey, how long have you lived in Texas?”
“All my life.” She handed Lillian the box with a scowl. “I’m sorry that I kept this longer than I should have. Brenda didn’t know I had it. I don’t know what good this is going to do you, but it wound up in storage in the main house’s outside shed. I think my mother was storing a few things for Eve. You know how she adores her. Anyway, I guess I kept it because I thought I might have a chance with Jackson. Now I know it’s just a pipe dream.”
“Sugar, that boy had eyes and a heart for one girl half of his life. Don’t let it get you down. There are plenty of bachelors in Stone Ridge and you’re lovely when you’re not trying to take another woman’s man.”
Last year, it had been Lincoln she’d been after. She had a thing for the Carver men, that much was certain. Then again, seemed like Jolette Marie wasn’t terribly particular at times. She liked men. Period.
She winced. “You’re so nice but I don’t deserve it.”
“Not everyonedeservesforgiveness. The good book tells us to give it anyway.”
“But I guess perfect Eve deserves everything.”
Lillian almost laughed at that. She thought of how much energy and time she’d spent hating Eve after she’d broken Jackson’s heart. Lillian’s forgiveness had been a long time coming.
“Eve isn’t perfect. Far from it.” Lillian set the box down and went to the linen cabinet to gather some fresh towels. “Here, get in front of the fire and see if you can get warm and dry again.”
Lillian sat and opened the box. She found old sweaters, cowgirl boots, and some old and worn western romance paperbacks. Near the bottom of the box, but perfectly protected between all the other clothing was the wedding quilt.
“Well, butter my biscuit.”
The quilt was in fair to middling condition. It looked a little ratty and faded but nothing a good wash and pressing wouldn’t take care of. And even though Lillian hardly needed this quilt anymore to remind Eve of how much she’d once loved Jackson, maybe it could serve another purpose. She was still deep in thought considering that purpose, the quilt spread out on the couch, when Jolette Marie came next to her.
Jolette Marie traced the embroidery lettering with the date and the names of Eve and Jackson. “I’d want to hide this, too.”
The poor girl had been to the altar three times and run off. No wonder no man was interested in anything other than a temporary dalliance with her.
“What did you do with all your quilts?” Lillian asked.
“I got rid of them.”
“Of course you did. That’s the logical thing to do.”
“What a tough memory. They never got married on this date and yet here it is embroidered into the quilt so…permanently.”
“Yes, well, we were all so certain it would happen. And yet she still kept the quilt. All these years.”
Lillian’s own marriage quilt was in her closet exactly where she would always be able to find it. Worn and yellowed with age now.
She’d probably clung to Albert longer than she should have.
Another flash in the gray skies and crashing thunder following closely on its heels had Jolette Marie jumping, too.
“Hank will probably be over to check on me in a bit.” Lillian patted Jolette Marie’s hand. “We’re safe here.”
“Do you mind if I fix us some tea?” Jolette Marie asked.
“Go ahead.”
Two hours later, Jolette Marie was curled up on the couch reading one of those paperback novels, Hank still hadn’t shown up, and the late afternoon sky had darkened as if it were midnight and not five o’clock. Eve was usually back by now, same as Jackson. Daisy should be home as well unless she was spending time withthat Wade. A striking fear pulsed through her at the thought any of them were in trouble in this storm. Lillian picked up the phone to dial Hank and found that the lines were down. Wonderful.
