WOMEN OF SURPRISE 02: Lydia's Passion Read online

  "Geesh! You should have told me you couldn't handle the knife. I would have cut the bread." Alex rushed around to the other side of the table. Grabbing hold of her hand, he applied pressure to her finger stemming the flow of blood.

  "I can handle a knife just fine, Mr. Judson. The handle was slippery is all."

  He felt a tremble go through her and wondered if she were the crying type. Since he wasn't sure, Alex rushed her over to the sink. Grabbing the pump handle, he began to pump furiously bringing up cold well water.

  When he could manage a good look at the cut, he saw it wasn't too deep. "This doesn't look too bad to me."

  A small gash of a quarter-inch wide angled across her finger. "Keep some pressure on it." When he was certain she could do that, he released his hold and rummaged around on the counter until he found a clean cloth. Tearing a thin strip from it, he bandaged her finger.

  "There. That should help."

  "Thank you."

  She'd turned away from the sink and was facing him. He very nearly was holding her in his arms. The feeling of having a woman in his arms had become so foreign that Alex wasn't sure what to do next. The only thing he knew was how good it felt to have her standing next to him.

  Lydia was looking up at him with those green eyes, bewitching him. It was the only way to explain what happened next. Tipping his head he touched his mouth to her lips-lips that felt so soft and tasted so sweet.

  He felt her remain still, and then, tentatively, return his kiss, moving her lips ever so slowly against his. It was as if they were frozen in time. For just these few brief moments he allowed himself to forget that he had responsibilities-and to forget that he'd had a wife whom he'd loved very much.

  Deepening the kiss, Alexander became lost in the sense of all that was Lydia Louise Monroe. And then she broke it off. Looking into her eyes he saw doubts, questioning, and just a little excitement. A rosy flush spread across her cheeks.

  "Alexander?"

  His name spoken in a question gave him pauseleft him wondering about what they'd just done.

  Taking a quick step back, Alex swallowed hard. "I apologize for my boldness."

  She opened her mouth as if to say something, but no words came out. Blinking, she looked down at the cut on her finger. "Thank you for the bandage. I think the bleeding has stopped." No mention of the kiss they shared.

  Sighing, he raked a hand through his hair in frustration. What was he doing kissing the schoolteacher anyway? Turning away from her, he stared at the table where their now cold supper sat. His gaze drifting to the place where his wife sat for so many years; it was time to let go. He could feel it clear to his soul.

  Turning to look at Lydia, he was about to apologize once more when the sound of an approaching wagon broke through the silence.

  "Are you expecting someone?"

  "Cole offered to drive you home. I didn't want you walking in the dark alone. I didn't think you'd mind."

  "Thank you for thinking of my safety."

  She bustled about the room, gathering her papers and shawl. Opening the door she gave him a quick glance over her shoulder and then was gone into the night.

  Swearing softly, Alexander cleared away the dishes, leaving the casserole for the chickens. He'd lost his appetite. Then he walked down the short hallway opening the first door he came to. In the dim moonlight he could make out the forms of his sleeping children. He wondered what it had been like for them having a woman other than Mrs. Sutherland reading them their bedtime story and tucking them in for the night. Making them feel loved, cared for, safe.

  Telling himself it hadn't made any difference, he closed the door and crossed the hallway, entering the room he'd once shared with his wife. Wearily, he sat on the edge of the double bed. Reaching out he took the picture off the nightstand and stared at it.

  "Joanna." Whispering her name into the darkness, Alex felt the familiar pain of his loss rolling through him. Two long years had passed since her death and still he felt the sharp, stabbing pain.

  Burying himself in his work had been the only way he could survive, that and taking care of his children. Though there were days when even their mere presence served as a painful reminder of what he'd lost.

  His wife wasn't coming back. Perhaps it was time to finally move on. Surely Joanna wouldn't begrudge him happiness? Of course he knew deep down in his soul that she wouldn't want his children to remain motherless, just like she wouldn't want him to be alone for the rest of his life.

  His wife had been a caring, unselfish person, it was the thing that had attracted him to her in the first place-it was what had made losing her so unbearable.

  He put the picture frame back on the nightstand, stood, and walked out the bedroom door. Within minutes he'd taken off his shoes, loosened his shirt collar and was sitting in the overstuffed chair in front of the cold fireplace.

  Closing his eyes, Alexander willed sleep to claim him. Instead, visions of a certain red-headed green-eyed teacher filled his mind.

  ccWell, John, I think it's nigh on time that the good people of this town got to see the progress the children are making under the tutelage of my niece." Margaret was glad to have her friend and advisor here. John Wagner had been a great help in bringing Cole and Abigail together.

  Margaret didn't know what she'd do without him. John had been by her side since her husband's death many years ago.

  Quirking his eyebrows at her, he asked, "And just what are you suggesting, Miss Margaret?"

  "Why an open house of course."

  Chuckling at her predictability, John gave the expected argument. "Of course. Perhaps Lydia has already thought of this idea, she may even be planning it as we speak."

  Shaking her head, she said, "No. Lydia's thoughts are filled with only one thing or should I say one person. Alexander Judson. Ever since she came back from his house the other night she's been acting strange. She hardly said a word at breakfast this morning."

  Strumming her fingers on the arm of the chair, she pondered the situation. "Something is going on between those two."

  John picked up a scone from the plate on the table sitting between them, and took a healthy bite. Swallowing the delectable morsels, he asked, "So you approve of this?"

  "I do."

  Margaret glanced out the window. It was another crystal-clear mountain morning. The town was growing beyond her wildest dreams. The near constant buzzing of the saws at the mill was proof Surprise was beginning to prosper again; just as she promised her dearly departed husband.

  Rising from the chair, John said, "I must be getting back to the office."

  "Have a good day and I'll let you know when the open house will be scheduled."

  Smiling at his dear friend, he shook his head. "You don't give up do you, Margaret?"

  "Why would I?"

  "Why, indeed."

  Lydia hadn't seen Alexander for two whole days. Two days where the only thing she could do was remember his kiss. She laid her fingertips over her lips as she sighed wistfully. She'd been so distracted by her thoughts that she'd given out the same assignment twice.

  Daisy Drumm had been the one to point this out to her. "Miss Lydia, we already did our tens."

  Glancing down at her papers, Lydia saw the child was right. "Thank you for bringing the mistake to my attention, Daisy."

  "You're welcome, Miss Lydia."

  "I'd like you all to start the next chapter in your reading lesson." This request brought about a myriad of moans from the students. She noticed Daisy and Laura seemed eager to please and were already turning to the pages where they'd last left off.

  After a few more minutes the class settled down leaving her to more unsettling thoughts. Shaking herself out of the mood was harder than she'd thought it would be, and by the end of the day the children weren't the only ones anxious to be out of the classroom.

  Waving good-bye to the last of the children, she gathered her schoolwork and locked the door. Instead of walking home as was her usual practice, sh
e turned to the right, heading off in the direction of town.

  It didn't take long to cover the distance to the sheriff's office. Even though Abigail was occupied with her new husband, she still managed to maintain regular hours at her job. Checking her time piece, Lydia saw that it was nearing four o'clock, almost time for Abby to be heading home. Hurrying her pace, she rushed onward hoping to catch her before she left.

  Entering the building, Lydia was happy to see Maggie there, too.

  "Good afternoon, Maggie, Abby," she said, taking off her bonnet and tossing it on the desktop.

  "Lydia Louise, what brings you around for a visit?" Coming around from behind the desk, Abigail gave her a welcoming hug.

  "Would you believe that I had some errands to run?"

  "No," Maggie pertly replied.

  "Guess you caught me in my little white lie." Taking the only other vacant seat, Lydia plunked herself down in the slat-backed chair across from Maggie.

  Abigail returned to her perch behind the desk. "Man trouble."

  "Why would you say something like that?" Maggie asked.

  "Don't tell me you haven't seen that look be fore? You know the one where Lydia gets to frowning and sighing and nibbling on her lower lip"

  Giving her a quick once over, Maggie nodded, smiling brightly. "Uh huh. Now I see what you mean!"

  Disgusted with herself for being so transparent, Lydia complained, "Must you point out all my traits?"

  "It's just that you're so adorable when faced with man trouble."

  After wrinkling her nose at Abigail's comment, no matter how well-intentioned, Lydia let out a loud sigh.

  "I'll have you know that not all men are like your husband-caring and easy to get along with. I bet you never have to guess what's on his mind."

  "He does speak freely, that's for sure." Maggie agreed.

  Abigail smiled. "And he is handsome and a very good kisser if I do say so myself!"

  Lydia sighed yet again. Abigail was so head over heels in love with her husband that Lydia found herself feeling a twinge of envy.

  Rolling her eyes, Maggie grinned. "That's more information than I needed to hear about your husband, Abby."

  Abby snorted in a very unladylike manner. "Someday, Miss Maggie you are going to fall head over heels in love, you mark my words."

  Shaking her head fervently, she turned to Lydia. "Lydia's being here isn't about me. So spill it, dear cousin, what mess have you gone and gotten yourself into this time?"

  Fussing with the seams on the side of her dress, she looked at her cousins through lowered eye lashes. "Alexander Judson is a fine man, don't you agree?"

  "Oh my," Maggie whispered. "Abby was right."

  "I knew this had to do with a man!" Abigail declared gleefully. "This is so wonderful!"

  Trying to ignore the fact that both women were leaning forward in their seats, wanting to hear more, Lydia went on to explain how she'd been helping out at the Judson's home, ending with the part about the kiss. When she'd finished speaking the only sound greeting her was silence.

  Lydia stood up and began pacing. "I know this is all so sudden and confusing, but truly I did nothing to provoke the man. One minute he was bandaging my finger and the next he was kissing me."

  "She's falling..."

  "...in love," Maggie finished Abigail's statement.

  Upon hearing the word "love" Lydia spun around facing them with both hands clenched on her hips. "I am not falling in..." flustered by the very thought of being in love, she found that even speaking the word was too much. Waving her hand wildly in the air, she finished with, "the word you said."

  This comment set both women to smiling and nodding their heads.

  "There is nothing to smile about!"

  Abigail came around to place her arm around Lydia. "Of course there is. Don't you see, Lydia? You've always protected your heart and now when you've least expected it, love may have found you."

  "This could be love. You have to admit that no other man has ever sent you running to us for advice."

  The thought gave her pause. They were right. Lydia had never asked anyone for advice when it came to matters of the heart. She'd never needed any before. Whether or not she was falling for Alexander Judson remained to be seen. The only thing clear at this point was that she was definitely attracted to the man.

  And the next thought to enter her mind was, what was she going to do about it?

  Standing, Maggie started toward the door. "Come along, Lydia. Your dilemma isn't going to be solved today."

  Looking to Abigail for help she was sadly disappointed when she only gave a quick shrug of her shoulders. "I'm afraid Maggie is right. Go home. If there's truly something between you and Alexander we'll all know soon enough."

  Sighing, Lydia said, "Such sage advice."

  "You asked for it, Lydia." Grabbing her by the arm Maggie pulled her out the door.

  She may have asked for it, but was hoping their advice would have been a bit more fruitful. Walking down the street with Maggie they passed by the building that would soon house Surprise's newest business venture, the new dance hall.

  Nudging Maggie's arm, she asked, "How are the plans coming along?"

  Frowning, Maggie sniffed. "They are on hold for the moment. Aunt Margaret and I are having a disagreement over the design of the building."

  Leave it to Aunt Margaret's namesake to go up against the matriarch of Surprise. "Is this stalemate going to end any time soon?"

  "I don't think so."

  They passed by the old saloon and were nearing the fork in the road, where Main Street branched off with High Road and the school to the right and Low Road and the boarding house to the left, when Lydia had the feeling they were being watched.

  Without thinking, she turned her head to the right and looked across the street in the direction of Judson's Lumber Yard. Her stomach flipflopped and her palms grew sweaty. Standing sil houetted in the doorway was the mill owner himself. Not knowing if she should acknowledge him with a wave or just keep walking left her feeling like an inexperienced schoolgirl.

  Disgusted with herself, she picked up the pace, anxious to be safely inside Aunt Margaret's home. Once there, they left bonnets and paperwork on the table in the foyer. Knowing right where Aunt Margaret would be at this time of day, both women entered the cozy sitting room off of the backside of the foyer.

  "Maggie, Lydia, good afternoon." Aunt Margaret was sitting near the fireplace in a chintz-covered settee. "I was wondering where the two of you were."

  "We were visiting with Abigail," Maggie offered.

  "And how is she?"

  "Blissfully happy." Lydia sighed, plunking down at the opposite end of the settee. Eyeing the tray of tea cookies, she grabbed two and proceeded to polish them off without further ado.

  Glancing from Maggie to Lydia, Aunt Margaret raised her eyebrows. "Trouble?"

  Quick to ward off any concern her aunt might have regarding her love life, Lydia said, "None whatsoever."

  "Good." Sitting up tall, Aunt Margaret continued, "I take it all is well at the school?"

  "Yes." Lydia spent the next few minutes relating all of the antics and adventures of her students. "They're really very bright children."

  "I'm so delighted to hear about their successes. As I'm sure their parents are too."

  Uncertain of where her aunt was going with this thread of conversation, Lydia nodded her head in agreement.

  "I imagine they'd like to see these accomplishments."

  "I suppose so."

  "Have you given any thought to doing an open house of sorts?"

  "Actually I have been considering it." Even though the idea was proposed by her aunt, Lydia thought it had merits. What better way was there to show off the school than to invite the community in?

  And so it was that the next few days was spent organizing the event taking her mind off of one Alexander Judson.

  The children threw themselves into getting ready for the open house with so much e
nthusiasm that Lydia couldn't help getting caught up herself. Each child was responsible for the cleaning of his or her desk. The older children helped with washing the windows and sweeping the floor clean.

  The day before the open house she was at the school putting the finishing touches on the decorations. Lydia had her hair tied back in an old handkerchief. She'd worn her oldest dress over which was tied a plan white apron that she'd borrowed from Anna.

  Satisfied that each window had enough flower cutouts hanging from each pane, she stood back to admire their handiwork.

  "This is beautiful."

  "Yes, it is."

  She spun around in surprise. "Mr. Judson. You frightened me. I didn't hear you come in." Her heart thumping, she quickly brushed some dust off of the apron.

  He was looking at her and not the decorations. "I stopped by to let you know that The Mercantile will be sending over punch bowls and cups later today."

  His deep brown eyes gazed over her. In them she thought she saw something-desire perhaps? A shiver of delight ran down her spine.

  Finding her voice she answered, "Good. There will be a table for refreshments out in the backyard, the items can be left there."

  Alexander continued to watch her and wondered if she was remembering the kiss they'd shared? He hadn't been able to think of much else for the past week, wavering between having enjoyed it and feeling guilty for betraying his wife's memory.

  She was standing there smiling at him and he could sense the uncertainty in her. Alex didn't know what he was supposed to do next.

  "Mr. Judson, is there something else I can do for you?"

  Her voice startled him. "You can start calling me by my given name, Lydia." He hadn't realized until now just how much he'd missed hearing his name spoken by a female. Considering she'd been in his home and there was the matter of the kiss, he didn't see any harm in her calling him by his first name.

  The look of surprise flitted across her face. He imagined there wasn't much that caught Miss Lydia off guard, but he just did and knowing that made him smile.