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my. She turned pleading eyes to
Rafe.
    “You like roast beef?” At her nod he told
the waitress to bring another plate of roast beef.
    Jubilee scanned the interior uneasily,
feeling totally out of her element.
    “Have you ever eaten in a restaurant
before?” He gentled his voice.
    She shook her head and saw the pity in his
eyes. She glanced away.
    “Pastor Barnett said they have good
food.”
    Her tense muscles wouldn’t relax. She was to
be married in a little less than an hour. Again. Her nerves quaked,
and she took short breaths. Her hands knotted in her lap.
    “I don’t remember thanking you for the
fabric. I’ve never had so much.” Her voice came out as a whisper.
Oh dear, that made her seem even more stupid, if that were
possible. Any moment now he’d stand and announce she was too much
of a dunce to marry. But he just nodded and leaned back in his
chair. He smiled good-naturedly.
    “Reckon it just means work for you.”
    He probably thought her a simpleton. She
glanced away. Her voice was hoarse when she spoke. “Oh, no, I’ll be
glad to get started. I haven’t done sewing in a while.”
    It grew quiet at their table, and Jubilee
scanned the room. The people seated seemed like regular folk. It
must not be uncommon for most people to eat at these
establishments. A fancy-dressed couple sat at the corner table, he
with his long black coat and vest, complete with his top hat
resting in the chair beside him, and she with an enormous amount of
ruffles and a large, strange-looking gathering of fabric at the
backside of her dress.
    The lady wore a crazy-tall feathered hat
covered with ribbons, and tied beneath her chin, that looked plain
uncomfortable. Surrounding another table, a group of older men in
casual clothes told yarns to each other and slapped their legs with
glee. Three ladies dressed for tea, pinkies up, sat nearby, deep in
conversation.
    Rafe shifted in his seat and she flinched.
She’d almost forgotten him. It could’ve been enjoyable to sit and
study the people as they came in and out, if it weren’t for the
fact she accompanied a virtual stranger whom she’d agreed to marry.
She lifted her eyes. He stared out the window, watching a horse and
buggy. She patted the brown paper package of fabric in her lap.
He’d been very kind to purchase the fabric. Was it a ruse to get
her to marry him? Her stomach clenched. Jubilee wasn’t sure if it
was from hunger or from wedding anxiety.
    The waitress arrived and plopped the plates
onto the table and scurried away. Jubilee eyed the huge portions
covering her plate. This was enough food for two days.
    “Do you mind if I pray?” Rafe asked
quietly.
    Her eyes flew to his. Was he a preacher?

CHAPTER FIVE
    What a silly question. The man farmed. She
muddled this thought in her head, thankful she hadn’t blurted her
thoughts aloud, and barely acknowledged his simple prayer. He tore
into his food and she did likewise, wondering how she managed to
eat. But experience had taught her to take meals when they became
available.
    She was struggling to eat a mere half of the
roast beef, potatoes and gravy, when he pushed his plate back
clean. She stared at the rest of the food on her plate.
    “You know you don’t have to finish every
bite.” A trace of humor lit his voice.
    She swallowed. “What will happen to the
scraps?”
    He shrugged. “Probably get added to a big
slop bucket and hauled out to the pigs.”
    She gasped and looked down. They threw good
food out to the hogs? Positively unthinkable. Even cold Mrs.
Galston had sent the leftovers home with Mrs. Perkins.
    She’d endured weeks with relatively nothing
to eat. Her eyes went to him in astonishment. “Really?”
    He laughed. “Yes. Don’t worry about the
leftovers. We’ve got bigger fish to fry.”
    Suddenly, her belly sank, as if filled with
a thousand lead marbles. The wedding. Oh, dear heavens. She pushed
her plate back. It didn’t appear so appetizing anymore.
    * * *
    As he held the door for