“I have never been in love before, so maybe I don’t rightly know exactly how a body should feel when he is. But if love is wanting someone more than you have ever wanted anything, if love is hurting inside when you are away from them, if love is wishing you could spend every minute of the day with them instead of only a few hours at night, if love is being confused all the time and not quite knowing why you are confused, then, by God, I am in love.”
“My sweet Jeeter.”
“If you don’t feel the same, tell me now and I will go,” Jeeter said. “I would never inflict myself on you, not in a million years. You are the nicest, kindest, prettiest gal in all creation, and the last thing I ever want to do, the very last thing, is to hurt you.”
Ernestine came down the aisle and embraced him. “We have been at cross-purposes.”
“If you say so. All I know is that I about passed out when I thought you did not want to see me anymore.”
“We can’t have that,” Ernestine said quietly, and giggled. “You are a fine man, Jeeter Frost.”
“That is the first time anyone has ever said anything like that to me,” Jeeter informed her.
“Get used to it,” Ernestine said. “I will compliment you often, for you have many fine qualities, whether you admit them or not.”
“A lot of folks would disagree.”
“I am not them.” Ernestine raised her head and looked him in the eyes. “I am the one person in this world who loves you with all her heart and will stand by you forever if you will stand by her.”
“Does this mean what I think it do?”
“What you think it does,” Ernestine corrected him. “Yes, I guess so. I have just asked you to marry me.”
Jeeter had not meant that. He had not meant that at all. He was just getting this love business worked out in his head and now she sprang marriage on him. He was so stunned, he could not think of any words to say.
“Cat have your tongue?”
“More like a grizzly,” Jeeter said. “We need to back up.”
“We do?”
“You just asked me to marry you?”
“Yes.”
“That’s not right. I may not never been married, but I know the man is supposed to do the asking.”
“Who says? There is no law dictating that the man must always broach the subject. A woman is entitled, if she desires. And you, dear man, have a knack for tying your tongue in knots.”
“You noticed?” Jeeter sheepishly smiled. “All right. Let’s say I let it pass so long as you never tell anyone it was you who asked me and not me who asked you. Do you have any notion what you are letting yourself in for?”
“I believe I do, yes, but you may clarify it for me.”
“You saw the penny dreadful. Everyone considers me a killer. Not fit for polite company. If you marry me, they will think you ain’t fit for polite company, neither.”
“Either,” Ernestine corrected. “And what have I told you about using ain’t?”
“Sorry. My mouth keeps forgetting what my head has learned.”
Ernestine clasped his hands in hers. “Jeeter, I do not care what others think. That is bold, yes, but love is bold. The fault is theirs. Judge not, the Good Book says, yet they have judged you, and wrongly, at that.”
Jeeter encompassed the schoolhouse with a sweep of his chin. “But what about your job? Some folks are bound to raise a fuss and say it’s not right, you teaching children when you have taken up with the likes of me.”
Ernestine hesitated. “I have an idea, Jeeter. I do not know if you will like it, but here goes.” She took a deep breath. “What do you say to getting married before the hour is up? To finding the justice of the peace and saying our vows? Then in the morning we will head wherever you want, somewhere new, somewhere we can both start over fresh.”
“Do you have a place in mind?”
“I have been thinking California would be nice,” Ernestine said. “It is far enough from your usual haunts that you can change your name and no one will ever know you. And they are in need of teachers.”
“California?” Jeeter had been thinking maybe Topeka.
“Is there a problem?”
“No, no, not at all,” Jeeter said. “California is a far piece, but if that is how far we have to go to live our lives in peace and quiet, then California it is.”
“In that case, let us find the justice of the peace.”
A flash of fear spiked through Jeeter, and he froze.
“What is it?” Ernestine asked.
“Are you sure about this? I don’t want to ruin your life.”
Ernestine laughed and drew him to her. “Silly man. I am as certain as I have ever been about anything. Now kiss me, and then we will begin our marvelous future together.”
“Together,” Jeeter Frost breathed in awe.
Chapter 18
The collection of shacks and soddies had no name. Not officially. Everyone called it Crooked Creek because it was on the north bank of Crooked Creek. Who first gave it a name no one knew, although Crooked Creek Sam, as he was called, who owned the saloon, liked to claim credit. No one argued with him because Sam Hoyt could become downright mean when his dander was up.
