CHAPTER12
“Are you certain you’re ready to propose?” Jakob asked.
Martin was driving the wagon into town to pick up Blanche. Today after they showed her the ranch, he wanted to propose to her. The ranch was where they would be living and he thought it would be proper to be able to show their children exactly where he had proposed to their mother.
“I’ve been ready since day one, but you’re the one who has been holding back.”
Jakob seemed to have suddenly had second thoughts about whether or not he wanted to marry. It was the first time in years they had not agreed on something.
“You heard her call herself a wild woman. You know I want a lady, not someone who is more of a saloon girl.”
“Why? Tell me why you want a proper lady?” Martin asked. “Seems to me you’d like the fact that she’s a little on the wild side. Just think what she’s going to be like in the bedroom.”
Jakob frowned and Martin could see that he liked the idea of her being wild in the bedroom.
“My mother was a perfect lady and that’s what I want in a wife.”
“Oh, dear God, so you want to marry your mother? That’s disgusting.”
“No, someone like my mother.”
“No one is going to be as perfect as your saintly mother.”
“Hey,” Jakob said, his face turning red “Watch what you say about my mother.”
“I’m not saying anything bad about her. I’m just saying what you expect is not possible. No one is going to meet your expectations. Blanche doesn’t have a chance.”
The man was impossible if he thought Blanche could be anything like his mother. And Martin had seen that spark in her eye that looked like she was dying to get into trouble. Do something besides act the way a woman should. It was one of the things he liked about her.
He couldn’t wait to see her reaction today to their ranch.
“I’ve said all along that I want a woman who is a lady.”
“So you think Blanche is not a lady?”
There was silence for a moment. “Sometimes she seems too perfect. Like she’s been taught how to act, but yet she’s just dying to break free.”
Martin sighed. That was exactly what he saw and yet it didn’t bother him. In fact, he wanted to help set her free.
“Then let’s not marry her,” Martin said, knowing he would be standing in front of the doctor with her in a few days regardless of what Jakob wanted.
Jakob turned and glanced at him, but Martin pretended not to notice.
“If she’s not going to make you happy, then we shouldn’t marry her.”
Martin guided the wagon down the road for the next mile. Jakob said nothing the entire way and Martin was growing fearful that his taunt hadn’t worked. He’d said the words just to make Jakob think of what they were letting pass by.
“When we get to the doctor’s house, instead of taking her to the ranch, we’ll tell her that we’ve changed our minds. We don’t want a wild woman in our bed or being free with us. We want a stuffy lady who will bore us. Who holds tea parties and is dull.”
Jakob shook his head at him. “You son of a bitch. You’re doing this to me deliberately.”
They had reached town. “I’m trying to help you decide. You have about two blocks before we reach the house. If you haven’t made your mind up by then, it’s over.”
A heavy sigh came from Jakob. “All right, let’s marry her. But I’m telling you, she’s not a lady.”
Martin grinned. “She’s all I need.”
He pulled the wagon to a halt in front of the Sanders’s home.
“Let’s go get her. I thought the perfect spot to propose would be somewhere near the pond, right before our property goes up into the forest.”
“How are we going to get her there?”
“Horseback riding,” he said. “And no, don’t ask. We don’t have a sidesaddle.”
Just then the door opened and Blanche lifted her skirts, showing her ankles as she all but skipped down the stairs.
“Hello,” she called, her straw hat in her hand.
Jakob glared at Martin and then climbed out of the wagon. He took Blanche in his arms and gave her a brief kiss.
“Jakob,” she said, her voice whispery soft. She gave a little giggle. “I’m expecting another kiss from you like that last one.”
A grin spread across his face.
“With no touching private areas,” she said.
“That’s no fun,” he said.
“No, but a lady does not allow that kind of fun. And you want a lady,” she said, smiling at him.
Oh, the woman had him figured out.
Martin wanted to laugh at the expression on Jakob’s face. The man looked stunned and he was glad. Every day, Martin liked Blanche more, and today he couldn’t wait to take her out to their ranch and show her their home.
“Martin,” she said and threw her arms around him. “I know not how a lady acts, but I am so happy to see you.”
“Darling, I’m happy to see you too. And it doesn’t matter to me. As long as you’re not getting into trouble, I’m happy.”
She stepped back and smiled at him. “Let’s go. I can’t wait to see your ranch.”
Martin lifted her and set her in the wagon and then she tilted her head at Jakob.
“Are you coming?”
“Of course,” he said, climbing up beside her.
Martin picked up the reins, released the brake and he clicked to the horses. “Giddyup.”