plantation.”
“I didn’t know you cared so deeply, Blake.”
“I would have spoken for you sooner, but business took me away from Greenville while I established a shipping trade. I couldn’t properly court you, so I didn’t express my feelings.”
“I see.” Steering the conversation away from intimate matters, she grabbed an empty pail from the veranda. “Walk with me to the raspberry patch,” she invited.
They strolled around the grounds, stopping when they came to bushes loaded with deep, red berries. Jenny carefully plucked the ripe fruit and dropped it into the bucket.
Leaning his large frame against the fence, Blake plopped a berry into his mouth and fondly recollected their childhood.
“Do you remember how you begged me to coach you when Thomas came to visit my parents. You’d sit on the veranda with me while I tutored you.”
Jenny smiled. “I do. Molly taught me housekeeping skills, to sew, and dance. She even instructed me how to speak delicately of some of the pleasant literature of the day. I was a farm girl at heart, but I craved a better education.”
“I remember when Thomas let me take you out riding. You rode as well as I did. We’d stop to rest and wrestle on the grass. You were a tomboy, daring to do what I did. Your sweet laughter filled the air and brightened my days. I hated leaving you behind when my parents transferred me to a private academy.”
Jenny recalled the palatial home outside the city where Blake lived. “The years have been good to you, Blake. Your parents worked their way into prosperity. They saw to your education and instilled the value of money at an early age.” A gleam came into her eyes. “You value the finer things in life, but you’re not the pompous lad many take you for.”
Blake grinned at her summation. “Thanks for the compliment.” He went on to explain, “I recently added several ships to my fleet and purchased some new properties. One is a lovely place in Natchez where I’m living now.”
“You’re wise and prosperous,” Jenny praised. “I’m happy for you.” With her bucket full of berries, she headed for the house.
“I still fondly remember my roots and divide my time between Natchez and Greenville. But most of all, I miss you, Jenny.”
“I am married now.” She saw the hurt in his eyes and amended her statement. “We will always be friends.”
“Friends forever,” Blake answered, hugging her gently. He held her at arms’ length. “You look like an angel the way the sun is beaming down upon your hair.”
Feeling a need to make a truce with Jenny, Nicholas started for the house. Coldness replaced his complaisant mood as he saw Jenny in the meadow, embracing a man. He watched the twosome as they laughed and frolicked, oblivious to their surroundings as Jenny knelt and put raspberries into a pail. A frown creased his brow as Jenny’s friend dropped beside her and helped fill the bucket. He rode toward them, fury pounding in his veins.
Taken unaware, Jenny and Blake looked up at Nicholas.
He stared at them with intensity as Blake cautiously helped Jenny to her feet.
Tension filled the sunny day as Jenny fixed her eyes on Nicholas. Wishing to be honest from the onset and refusing to be bullied by his stony glare, she introduced Blake to Nicholas.
Blake gave Nicholas a reproachful look. His voice dripped with animosity.
“So, you are the one who took my true love from me.”
“Blake!” Jenny reprimanded.
Nicholas sent Blake a hostile glare; his jawline tensed.
“Leave now, or pay the price,” he warned through clenched teeth.
“Yes, go,” Jenny encouraged, hoping to avoid an argument. Blake’s gaze riveted on her.
“If you insist,” he said with reluctance. He whistled for his horse and mounted. “I’ll be in town for a few days if you need me Jenny.” Slowly he rode down the lane.
Jenny cast her eyes downward to avoid Nicholas’s probing, angry eyes. Rushing down the path, she carried the berries
“I didn’t know you cared so deeply, Blake.”
“I would have spoken for you sooner, but business took me away from Greenville while I established a shipping trade. I couldn’t properly court you, so I didn’t express my feelings.”
“I see.” Steering the conversation away from intimate matters, she grabbed an empty pail from the veranda. “Walk with me to the raspberry patch,” she invited.
They strolled around the grounds, stopping when they came to bushes loaded with deep, red berries. Jenny carefully plucked the ripe fruit and dropped it into the bucket.
Leaning his large frame against the fence, Blake plopped a berry into his mouth and fondly recollected their childhood.
“Do you remember how you begged me to coach you when Thomas came to visit my parents. You’d sit on the veranda with me while I tutored you.”
Jenny smiled. “I do. Molly taught me housekeeping skills, to sew, and dance. She even instructed me how to speak delicately of some of the pleasant literature of the day. I was a farm girl at heart, but I craved a better education.”
“I remember when Thomas let me take you out riding. You rode as well as I did. We’d stop to rest and wrestle on the grass. You were a tomboy, daring to do what I did. Your sweet laughter filled the air and brightened my days. I hated leaving you behind when my parents transferred me to a private academy.”
Jenny recalled the palatial home outside the city where Blake lived. “The years have been good to you, Blake. Your parents worked their way into prosperity. They saw to your education and instilled the value of money at an early age.” A gleam came into her eyes. “You value the finer things in life, but you’re not the pompous lad many take you for.”
Blake grinned at her summation. “Thanks for the compliment.” He went on to explain, “I recently added several ships to my fleet and purchased some new properties. One is a lovely place in Natchez where I’m living now.”
“You’re wise and prosperous,” Jenny praised. “I’m happy for you.” With her bucket full of berries, she headed for the house.
“I still fondly remember my roots and divide my time between Natchez and Greenville. But most of all, I miss you, Jenny.”
“I am married now.” She saw the hurt in his eyes and amended her statement. “We will always be friends.”
“Friends forever,” Blake answered, hugging her gently. He held her at arms’ length. “You look like an angel the way the sun is beaming down upon your hair.”
Feeling a need to make a truce with Jenny, Nicholas started for the house. Coldness replaced his complaisant mood as he saw Jenny in the meadow, embracing a man. He watched the twosome as they laughed and frolicked, oblivious to their surroundings as Jenny knelt and put raspberries into a pail. A frown creased his brow as Jenny’s friend dropped beside her and helped fill the bucket. He rode toward them, fury pounding in his veins.
Taken unaware, Jenny and Blake looked up at Nicholas.
He stared at them with intensity as Blake cautiously helped Jenny to her feet.
Tension filled the sunny day as Jenny fixed her eyes on Nicholas. Wishing to be honest from the onset and refusing to be bullied by his stony glare, she introduced Blake to Nicholas.
Blake gave Nicholas a reproachful look. His voice dripped with animosity.
“So, you are the one who took my true love from me.”
“Blake!” Jenny reprimanded.
Nicholas sent Blake a hostile glare; his jawline tensed.
“Leave now, or pay the price,” he warned through clenched teeth.
“Yes, go,” Jenny encouraged, hoping to avoid an argument. Blake’s gaze riveted on her.
“If you insist,” he said with reluctance. He whistled for his horse and mounted. “I’ll be in town for a few days if you need me Jenny.” Slowly he rode down the lane.
Jenny cast her eyes downward to avoid Nicholas’s probing, angry eyes. Rushing down the path, she carried the berries
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