Year of Jubilee by Peggy Trotter

feature, though, were those dark eyes, now looking quite
puzzled as they gazed back at him. She differed so much from…his
heart skipped a beat when he realized he was thinking of
Rosemary.
    “Is everything all right?” Jubilee’s brows
drew together, and her lips pursed.
    “Right as rain.”
    Breakfast arrived with greasy gravy slung
over hard biscuits, but they managed to polish off most of the meal
and left the Salon in record pace. Rafe led Jubilee to the
hurricane deck, hoping she wouldn’t mind the sun, given the early
hour. They were the only ones on the top. He escorted her to a
bench that would afford a wonderful panorama of New Albany once
they came abreast of the curve.
    “You’ll love the view from here,” Rafe said,
almost convincing himself they weren’t simply hiding. It went down
his gullet easier.
    * * *
    Jubilee opened her eyes and rubbed them with
her fingers, taking a slow breath of air to awaken herself. She
raised her head and realized they were still on the hurricane deck
on the same bench. The sun’s rays shone bright, and her face grew
warm. As she stretched her neck, something dawned on her. She’d
been lying against his shoulder—asleep. Her eyes grew wide, and she
covered her mouth with her hands. Glancing at him, she found him
smiling and the sunlight caught the green in his hazel eyes.
    “I’m so sorry,” she whispered.
    Rafe grinned. “Didn’t inconvenience me none.
Look.”
    He motioned ahead of them, and she noticed
the steamer had slowed. Shielding her eyes with her hand, she saw
the docks and scanned the houses and businesses along the
banks.
    “We’d better collect our satchels and get
below.” He rose and assisted her. “The horn will soon go off and we
don’t wanna be here when it does.”
    They took the stairway and collected their
baggage from their quarters. Rafe carried both of them in his right
hand while she gripped his left, maneuvering through the crowd. The
whistle blasted and Jubilee cringed, thankful not to be on the
hurricane deck.
    The captain skillfully slowed the huge ship
to ease into the slope at the bank of the river, where several
other steamers were beached. Excited chatter twittered all around
and the throng pressed in from every side. By now, the heat had
become oppressive. It took time to disembark on the dirt bank and
climb to the wooden walk. Rafe hailed someone Jubilee couldn’t see
and a shiver of apprehension shot through her.
    A few moments later, the crowd parted and
they were surrounded by a puddle of family, all talking, smiling,
and hugging. Jubilee blinked and caught her breath, still not
entirely awake. There were so many. Rafe pulled her toward two
older people, the lady wiping her eyes and grinning at her
already.
    “This is my mother and father, Jennie and
William Tanner.” Rafe introduced them. “And this is my wife,
Jubilee.”
    She smiled and was pulled into a hug by
Rafe’s mother. “Oh, what a beautiful girl you are.”
    Jubilee blinked . Beautiful? Then
Rafe’s father embraced her, his height an obvious clue as to where
Rafe had inherited his stature. Then the names began to fly,
Everett, his wife Addie, with way too many kids, Forrest and
Mollie, more kid names, then Anna and Amos, Phoebe, Isaac,
Benjamin, Evanga-something and so many children running, jumping,
and being held that Jubilee grew dizzy.
    Then grandparents, Henry and Blanche Tanner,
and Grandma Louisa, Jennie’s mother, leaning heavily on a cane.
Jubilee moved to the edge of the crowd, her hand gripped in her
skirt. Rafe pulled himself free from his father’s embrace and
stepped to her, wrapping his arm around her back while he continued
to talk. She hated to admit it, but his presence added a measure of
security.
    “We’ve brought our luggage, so maybe it’s
best if we head to the house. I’m sure meeting everyone is a bit
overwhelming for Jubilee.” Rafe chuckled.
    “Oh, of course, dear. We are a bit much, I
suppose. We’re so sorry.”