Anna's Secret

by Blossom Turner

  ***

  She was thankful the men settled on the front porch away from her. Katie was glad to stay hidden in the background helping in the kitchen.

  Ma fussed about as if the king had come for tea. She pulled out the best dishes, Aunt May’s serving tray and good cutlery. Her constant prattle set Katie’s nerves on edge.

  “How embarrassing we don’t have tea. That blasted war is not over, even when it’s over. Her grumbles grew louder. “When will we be able to get decent supplies that don’t cost an arm and a leg?”

  “Katie,” Ma said, “set the Sassafras to steep on the stove and, Amelia, fetch me a few springs of mint from the garden.”

  “May, do we have any of your tea biscuits left, or did the kids eat them all?”

  Her Aunt May threw a gentle arm around Ma’s shoulder and smiled. “Yes, there’s plenty. Now take a deep breath, Doris.”

  Katie wished yet again she had that kind of relationship with her ma.

  Aunt May gave a squeeze to Doris’s shoulder and moved to the counter. She lifted the checkered cloth that covered the tea biscuits and placed the plate onto the tray. “Why don’t you go sit with them, and I’ll bring everything out when the tea is ready?”

  “No, I won’t meddle in men talk, but Jeb asked specifically that Katherine serve the tea.

  Aunt May swung around. Her eyes widened when Ma gave a slight nod.

  Something was up. Katherine wasn’t sure what.

  “Katherine, go tidy yourself up and fix your bun, you look unkempt.”

  “But, Ma, when have you ever cared what I look like—”

  “For heaven’s sakes, Katherine, is there ever a moment when you do as I say and don’t argue with me?” She threw up her hands. “Go.”

  Aunt May stood behind her ma and shook her head, motioning to Katherine to not engage. Katie huffed out a deep breath.

  “And change out of that old work dress. Put on your Sunday—”

  Katherine spun around. “Mr. Richardson has already seen me out on the porch when he arrived, and if my dress was good enough then, its good enough now.” She slipped into the bedroom before Ma could say another word.

  When she reentered the kitchen, both Ma and Aunt May stood side-by-side at the sink snapping off the ends of fresh beans from the garden. Their chatter filled the room.

  “We can’t live here much longer. We’ve imposed upon your family enough. This house barely squeezed in the four of you without adding the seven of us, and now with another young’un on the way—”

  “God will provide, Doris. Maybe, just maybe, salvation sits on our front porch as we speak.”

  “And just what does that mean?” Katie asked.

  They jumped apart and whirled around.

  Aunt May recovered quickly. She masked the odd light of hope in her eyes. “Oh, Katie girl, you scared us sneaking up like that.” Her laughter filled the room. “You always did have the stealth of an Indian brave.” She motioned toward the table. “The tray is ready to go. Would you be a dear and take that out?”

  Katie frowned but did their bidding. She swung open the screen with a tad too much frustration. The door swung wide and crashed against the house before slamming shut.

  Good one—so much for making myself invisible.

  Both Pa and Mr. Richardson stopped talking. Katie felt their eyes upon her though she refused to look up. She set the tray gingerly on the small table between them with a quick escape in mind.

  Mr. Richardson caught and held her gaze. “Thank you, Katherine.” A row of straight white teeth widened into a full smile as he boldly captured her attention.

  Propriety demanded she answer. “You are mo-most welcome, Mr. Richardson.” She forced a slight upward curve to her lips and hated the fact she stammered.

  “Can you pour us each a cup, Katie girl?” Pa asked.

  Her hands trembled as she lifted the pot, and she spilled a bit of the first pour onto the saucer. She gave that one to Pa hoping Mr. Richardson had not noticed. One sideward glance told her his eyes were still pinned on her. Determination held her steady as she poured and handed the second cup. Their hands brushed against each other, his rough, hers soft. She pulled away as if she had touched hot coals and beelined for the door.

  “Katherine, come sit with us for a few minutes,” Pa said.

  She kept walking. “I have to help Ma with supper preparations. You know how she is when I shirk my work.” She disappeared inside before he could protest.

  The safety of the kitchen never felt so good. She blew out a deep breath as the door slammed on its hinges behind her. There was something about Mr. Richardson’s familiarity that unnerved her. Not to mention the breadth of his wide shoulders over a thick, barrel chest. He was tall. And big. Too big.

  Ma and Aunt May were huddled together in the far corner of the kitchen as close as an apple to its skin. They stopped their chatter as she reappeared. Aunt May moved toward her.

  “I think you have an admirer, Katherine,” Aunt May teased, with a twinkle in her eyes.

  Katie’s mouth dropped open and her eyes widened. “You can’t be serious. He’s almost as old as Pa.”

  “Don’t look so surprised, girl,” Ma said. “Why with your comely looks, what man wouldn’t be interested?”

  The all too familiar disapproving tone and set of her ma’s chin told Katie she was in for a fight.

  “Ma,” she pleaded. “This is ludicrous. I’m too young for him. What about Widow Laurie up the road? Why, she would jump at the chance of marriage with her brood of children and no husband to run the farm.”

  Ma’s lips formed a tight ashen line and her eyes narrowed into a glare. She moved in close, her voice hushed but stern. “You’d do well to remember that is a very influential man sitting on our humble porch. I will not have you embarrassing us with your haughty ways. All I know at this point is the conversation out there concerns you, and you will show nothing but respect. Do you hear me?” She clenched her teeth together and wagged her finger so close to Katie’s face she could feel the fan of a breeze.

  Ma’s countenance held no room for argument.

  ***

  Katie would rather run down the streets of Lacy Springs naked than marry old man Richardson. She couldn’t believe her Pa. Was he out of his mind? Could another twist of fate far crueler than what had already happened be her lot in life?

  “Oh, so that’s why he showed up out of the blue last week all friendly and sure of himself. I wondered what brought the high and mighty Mr. Richardson to our humble door.” She intentionally flashed her pa a stormy scowl. “Apparently, I was the bait.”

  He dropped his eyes to the floor.