His entire body yawned in the deepest relaxation Jake had ever felt. Rolling closer to her side, he took in her beauty. The moon cast a gossamer sheath of blue light through the open window, changing the hue of her skin to a soft creamy tint. She was asleep on her stomach with her arm thrust up under her pillow. With her heavenly face turned towards his, Teresa was completely serene, tucked beneath the silvery webs of dreams. Gently, so as not to wake her Jake tucked back the short soft tendrils, that fell to frame her face. It had felt like an eternity without her and now here she was sleeping like a dove, by his side. Watching her now, breathing in the sweet ethereal scent of roses, he felt he loved her so much that it actually hurt his heart.
Her sleek raven tresses, alighted with the starry blue undertones of a night sky, were swept up across her pillow laying her back bare. Jake watched spell bound at the rise and fall of her sloping back before he reached out and gingerly tugged her nightgown back up over her shoulder blades. Jake cast his eyes up to the murky moonlit sky. Thank the God up in heaven, thank whatever Cloud Dancing's spirit friends were, thank whatever magic there was in the universe around them, that this beautiful creature loved him back. Nudging himself closer to her body, Jake wrapped his arms around her, feeling her mold into him. Her face tucked up comfortably under his throat with a sigh as she sleepily entwined her legs with his. Now that he could hold on to her tangible form, his lids fell heavily. Pressing his lips to her forehead, he squeezed her gently to him once more before drifting off into the clouded waves of sleep.
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She felt a gentle pressure on her cheek, like the light flutter of a butterfly's wings. The touch continued stroking the side of her face, delicately calling her out of her slumbering state. As Lucy's thick lashes ascended from the roof of her cheek, she smiled instantly feeling a triumphant elation. Her mother smiled down at her lovely as every, holding Izzy's spying form on her lap. She was wearing her church dress, a silvery dove gray brocade frock with a white lace wrap tucked in around the square collar at her breast. The same matching silken lace poked out in wavy cuffs from the bell like opening of her sleeves. And her jet black hair was swept up and contained with a silvery chained basket at the base of her head. Already satin bluish black ribbons of hair had fallen free, framing her cheery face.
"Mama!" Lucy bolted from her bed embracing her mother about her cinched waist. Lucy nestled in the warmth of her mother's arms which held her tightly to her side. What harm could befall them now that her mother was here to care for and protect them? Lucy felt Teresa's hand reach down to cup her little face with her free hand, while Izzy sat mesmerized by the shiny darker silver of the brocade pattern.
"How I have missed my little angels," Teresa's voice was soft and near to a whisper. "Come," she released Lucy helping her from her bed so that she might wash up at the basin. "You will tell me all the wonderful things you have been up to while I was away."
While Lucy hummed about excitedly, rehashing every childish event and adventure between herself and Katie, Teresa wandered about the small room laying out Lucy's Sunday dress and undergarments. It wasn't until Lucy reached the climax of her story with the retelling of how Izzy had walked in the small yard by the house, that Teresa froze with a pang straight through her heart. With a disappointed sigh, she kissed Izzy who sat complacently on her hip. The somewhat groggy babe sighed as well, resting her autumn head on Teresa's breast.
"She held on tah my fingers the whole way," Jake surprised all three of them. He leaned in the doorway his arms crossed over his chest. One side of his mouth curled up in a mischievous smile that spoke of the sensuous night they had shared. Teresa blushed through her smile as she noted his now finely quaffed appearance. He was clean-shaven now; his auburn hair neatly combed back, yet still somewhat long as it swept along the square collar of his white shirt. Jake had donned his Sunday best as well, wearing his sharp black vest and matching charcoal slacks. His gold watch chain glistened against the dark background of his stomach as he ran his hand through the thick tufts of his hair. "Thought maybe after church we might stop off for ah trim, before we catch the train back."
"Actually," Teresa rose blissfully happy to be surrounded by her family again. She handed Izzy over to Jake's waiting arms, that she might help Lucy to get ready. "I thought perhaps we might diverge from our usual schedule, this Sunday."
"Oh?" Jake furrowed his brow perplexed.
Teresa stifled a chuckle at Jake's inability to admit when he didn't understand a complicated word, "Perhaps this Sunday…instead of mass in Denver, we could attend church in town?"
As Teresa helped Lucy to poke her head through her pale yellow dress, Lucy protested, "But I wanted to ride the train!"
"We may ride the train next Sunday," Teresa reasoned pulling Lucy's arms through the short scalloped sleeves. The light daffodil shade of the dress, off set Lucy's complexion, making her skin appear pleasantly fair.
"Besides," Teresa ran an all too knowing eye over Jake. He may wear the outward appearance of health and vitality, but one glance into his darkening steel eyes told her he was tiring quickly. However well Jake thought he was fooling her, she knew he still felt weak, and his stubbornness wouldn't allow him to stay home. "I think a long ride might be a bit much at the moment."
Jake watched as Teresa's practiced hands set to picking and combing each of Lucy's fat glossy ringlets, into place. He wanted to argue with her considering the length of time he'd had to endure without her. How he'd love to pump some fire into those passionate veins of hers, just to warm her up. Yet, as he observed her determination to get Lucy ready for church, he knew she'd have her way. No doubt, this was something she and Dr. Mike had cooked up last night. He smiled just wide enough to show a hint of his front teeth, before he stepped close to them and kissed them both on the cheek. "Guess I'll change Izzy then," he grinned as he strutted out the door.
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Celina hovered close to the open door of the church watching while the town's people rallied their wagons along the thick grass of the meadow. She held her fingerless white lace gloved hand, over her pale brow, blocking the brightness of the morning sun. So this was how it would be, she thought observing the way the women politely shunned her. Apparently, she was good enough to make their dresses, though not worthy of a greeting or commonplace chat. As her mossy eyes fell on the tight trio of women standing aloft near the simple cemetery picket, Celina fought to maintain a pleasant veneer on her face.
They were clearly discussing her, and it didn't take a genius to realize that Dr. Quinn was the ringleader. Now and then Mrs. Jennings spoke behind her hands, allowing her frosty blue eyes to float over Celina's direction, before sighing and dramatically dropping her hands to her sides, conceding in agreement to something. But it was Ms. Grace which was the boldest of the three. She thought nothing of looking Celina up and down with a cocked eyebrow. The corner of her subtly rouged lips mashed up in condemnation, as she shook her head with disapproval.
Attempting to give off an air of indifference, Celina forced herself to look away. At least the men were acting with a much more polite accommodation. The Reverend had greeted her with much fanfare, informing her of how praised he'd heard her work had been among the ladies. How he'd hoped they might take advantage of her services during the holiday pageants. Mr. Bray, although seemingly deep in some disparaging thought, wished her a good morning and offered her a seat at his side, during the service. She'd thought she may have been mistaken, or had a look of disappointment crossed his face when she agreed. In fact, now that she thought about it more closely, the men seemed to be pushing a kind of forced civility on her, to quite an uncomfortable degree. This must be that rogue, Mr. Lawson's doing. What had he spread about her to the town?
It was then that a tense hush seemed to fall across the meadow. A solitary wagon was crossing the bridge at a brisk easy pace. Her line of sight swam to him instantly captivated, as the wagon grew closer. Unaware of her own actions Celina crossed the small landing of the church and supported herself on the rail closest the parked wagons. Throat clenching her eyes shaded sinisterly as Jake jumped from the high bench. He was smiling, intently as Teresa lowered Izzy down into his waiting arms. Lucy who had long since jumped down from the wagons bed took charge of her sister, as Jake helped Teresa from the high bench himself. Celina's nails dug into the cracking white paint of the stair rails.
"Oh what a lovely dress," Mrs. Jennings lightly padded Teresa's arm as she lifted Izzy from Lucy's grateful arms. The child ran off in the direction of a small cluster of children congregating under the large mushroom shaped oak in the middle of the cemetery.
"Thank you," she nodded smiling towards Jake's admiring expression. His hand rested protectively on the small of her back. With his other hand, he'd flipped the opening of his charcoal gray duster back, that he might rest his hand on his hip. Momentarily, they conversed; unaware of the cozily woven bond they seemed to be exuding.
Finally, strolling towards the steps of the church, Celina held her breath. The inevitable was approaching. The woman that stood between her and Jake was nearing. Celina could feel every eye watching this slow moving train wreck about to happen. What was only taking seconds felt like an eternity as Jake ushered his wife and baby closer and closer. As though of their own accord Celina's feet drew her to step down towards them, with her slender snowy hands fisted at her jealous sides. She could feel it burning, sizzling the skin at her back. Certain her face had flushed brightly, her eyes settled on them. The brim of Jake's black Stetson covered his eye's concealing any hint of expression. Dense as the atmosphere was, Celina turned to face down Teresa. She raised herself up like an emerald eyed viper about to strike, when his foot slid forward, cutting her off.