Country Wishes

by RaeAnne Hadley

  Papa had sought work only when the inkling took him, it was mama who’d kept clothes on our backs and food on the table by working long hours at the diner for Uncle Tobias. Her uncle had rewarded her for her loyalty to him and willed her the property when he was taken by consumption.

  Mama and I had stepped up and became responsible for keeping the diner going while he’d struggled to get well. After three years, doctors had said there was no more to be done and he was taken in the middle of the night. It was two weeks after papa was killed.

  It made sense Uncle Tobias had left it to his niece instead of his only daughter who was the same age as mama but had never worked a day in her whole life. She’d married a wealthy businessman and while he was said to work hard, she enjoyed the fruits of his labor by visiting exotic countries overseas – alone!

  After mama took ownership, we’d experimented with expanding the menu and now sold baked goods. They sold faster than we could produce them, no matter how many we made. Many a customer would grumble when they came in late afternoon to partake of their favorite slice of peach, apple and blueberry pie, smothered in lashings of freshly churned cream, only to find we’d sold out. Their grumpy demeanor was not improved when I informed them they needed to come into the diner earlier if they expected to be served one of the tasty treats.

  Our days were long – we began baking around four in the morning and our door remained open until after supper had been served. We would usually lock up around seven in the evenings, and after partaking of our own supper, drag our weary bodies upstairs to where we resided, wash up and collapse in bed – exhausted.

  I would usually read for an hour or so, allowing the words on the pages to carry me to far off exotic lands. There was also a handsome hero and romance involved. I ached for a man to enter my life and sweep me off my feet like the heroines in the books.

  Unfortunately, while the heroines were small, petite ladies with impeccably coiffed blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes, I was tall, gangly, had non-descript amber eyes and a head full of wild black curls.

  While they wore elegant gowns in the latest fashions and white button up boots on their delicate feet, I wore off the rack plain brown skirts. They barely reached to my ankles, exposing manly black boots on my large feet. The skirts were paired with white shirts – usually men’s because it was difficult to find ladies shirts which would fit my larger size and long arms. Over the top was the seemingly ever present white apron.

  Our routine didn’t change during the week and on Saturdays, so I had no opportunity to be courted by a man. Not that any man was interested in me, preferring instead, smaller more delicate ladies.

  On Sundays, the Sabbath, I would don one of the two floral dresses I owned, along with my work boots and attend church. This was where I caught up with my best friend, Rowan who was currently stepping out with the banker’s son – Mark. I say currently because it seemed Rowan had a different beau every month.

  Following the sermon, there was never time to partake in an offered cup of tea or chat. We needed to ensure the diner was ready and open in time for the midday meal. There was always a large crowd who would drop in after church.

  I jumped when mama came up beside me and spoke.

  “That coffee has been ready for near on ten minutes, Abigail. Long enough for me to fry up the boy’s steaks, boil potatoes, warm biscuits and prepare the gravy. I swear you disappear into dreamland every time those four boys step through the door. I’m convinced you’re sweet on one of them, I just haven’t figured out which one.”

  “Mama,” I hissed, before glancing at the men’s table to see if they’d heard what mama had said.

  Mama laughed as she squeezed past me with two plates of food in her hands.

  “Why don’t you ask him if he’d like to visit with you some time?”

  “When would that time be, mama? I’m here working every waking hour.”

  Mama’s expression reflected the hurt I’d inflicted on her with my words and I felt remorseful as she stepped away to serve the men their meals.

  I set about placing the coffee pot, four mugs, cream, sugar and stirring spoons onto a tray.

  When mama returned to collect the remaining two plates, I laid a hand on her arm.

  “I’m sorry, mama. I didn’t mean to be curt with you.”

  She patted my hand. “I know darlin’. Serve the boys their coffee while I set out the other meals. When you’re done, come through to the kitchen. There’s no one who needs to be served and it’s close to closing, so I doubt there will be anyone else tonight. I want to discuss something with you while we wash up the dishes.”

  “Discuss what?”

  “I’ll tell you when we’re out of hearing range of the customers.”

  I was puzzled, intrigued, but rather than question her further, I headed to where the men sat. They were deep in conversation.

  I swallowed around the large lump in my throat which always seemed to appear any time Maxwell Long was nearby.

  I had known Max for years. He was the eldest of three children at age twenty-seven. He was a good eight inches taller than me and actually made me feel petite when I stood alongside him. He had jet black hair and beautiful ice blue eyes. A huge dimple in his left cheek, which was always visible, became even more prominent when he smiled. The sight sent tingles racing up and down my spine. I liked Max – a lot but he didn’t know I existed. Not like that, anyway.

  Rowan was his sister and twenty-two, the same age as me. She was tiny but had the same black hair and ice blue eyes as her brothers.

  Edward was the youngest brother at age nineteen and he was almost as tall as his brother. He’d gone off to college and was studying medicine.

  Max and his sister lived at their parent’s ranch - Mykita. It was around a mile from town at the base of the mountain which Hopeful was situated on.

  The ranch had a rather colorful history and had been worked long before the town of Hopeful had been founded in 1858. It had previously been owned by William Long – Mr. Long’s father. He’d been a notorious gambler who’d won the spread in a card game in 1831.

  Gossip around town insisted he’d had a secret gold cache because he never did a day’s work in his life. Mr. Long dismissed the rumors saying if the gold did exist, he had no idea where it was. He was more inclined to believe his father was a fortunate gambler and the winnings were the source of his income.

  The Long family, with Max as manager, ran hundreds of head of cattle, were very successful, well respected in town, close-knit, happy and wealthy.

  Since working at the diner, my friendship with Rowan had endured. She understood the need for me to support mama but being unable to spend any real amount of time with her, I knew it was only a matter of time before we drifted apart. The reality made me sad.

  I rested the tray I’d been carrying on the side of the table close to where Max sat digging into his meal. I placed the contents of the tray onto the table before lowering it to the floor beside me. I poured a healthy amount of hot coffee into each mug and set one in front of each man.

  Max and his three friends – Cody Bishop, Dalton Carmichael and Wyatt Singer were weekly visitors to the diner. They had supper before crossing to the saloon where they spent their Saturday evenings. They would be entertained by dancing girls, take part in card games and I guessed they would imbibe in the demon alcohol. I hoped none of them succumbed to the lure of the deadly liquid as my papa had.

  A twinge of jealousy burned through me when I pictured Max with one of the dancers. I’d heard rumors around town that he was sweet on Mildred Sims and why shouldn’t he be? The woman was his age, stunningly beautiful and had an hourglass figure which I suspected was natural and not the result of a corset.

  “Is that all?” I asked quietly after retrieving the tray and holding it in one hand, coffee pot in the other.

  Max turned his gorgeous eyes on me. My heart thumped against my ribs while my belly flip flopped.

  “Rowan asked me
to tell you that she won’t be at church tomorrow. She’ll see you next week.”

  “Why won’t she be there?” I was alarmed by the thought something could be wrong.

  “She dismounted Ranger awkwardly and twisted her ankle. Doc said nothing is broken. He’s bandaged it and told her to stay off it until the swelling goes down.”

  “Oh. Please tell her I’m sorry, I hope she feels better soon and I look forward to seeing her next week.”

  Max nodded but continued staring at me.

  “Something else?”

  “Why don’t you ever take time off to have fun? Start stepping out, I’m sure there are a few men who would love to have you on their arm. Most gals the same age as you and Rowan are married with children. I keep telling her she needs to settle down, get married and have a family. Maybe if she saw you doing that, she would too.”

  His attitude had me straightening my back and I became indignant. “The diner won’t run itself and you’re five years older than us, why aren’t you married with children?”

  I spun around intending to stomp away but Max caught my arm and I turned back.

  “I didn’t mean to upset you. When you stop working so hard and find the time to step out with someone, maybe you could join Mildred and me for supper one evening.”

  So it was true, he was seeing Mildred. Tears burned my eyes. I yanked my arm from his hand, spilling a few drops of coffee on the sleeve of his white shirt. I didn’t care if it stained.

  The thought of Mildred’s hand in his, her lips on his, had tears breaking free as I rushed to the kitchen. Once there, I banged the coffee pot on a warming plate, the tray onto one of the polish wooden counter tops, dropped into a chair and crossed my arms forcefully over my chest. Feeling mama’s eyes on me, I tilted my head back and gazed at her concerned face.

  Chapter Two

  ABIGAIL

  “What’s wrong?” Mama dried her hands on a dish towel as she crossed to my side from where she’d been cleaning dishes.

  “Nothing.” I answered sullenly.

  “Abigail?” Mama spoke to me in her mother voice and I lifted my eyes to hers.

  “The rumors are true; Max is dating a dancer called Mildred. How could he sully his reputation by stepping out with someone like that?”

  “Why would who Max steps out with, bother you?”

  I felt my face warm.

  “Ah, you like him and you’re jealous.”

  “I am not!” I lied. “It’s not fair, mama. All my friends are either married, spoken for or courting. Most of them don’t bother to ask me along to social events anymore because they know I do nothing but work. I haven’t been to July 4th celebrations for six years because I’m always here.”

  I knew I sounded like a petulant child. Tears of frustration escaped and spilled down my cheeks.

  Mama pulled me onto my feet and wrapped me in her loving arms. Resting my head on her shoulder, I sobbed. She waited while I set free my frustration before easing me back from her. She wiped the tears from my face with the bottom of her apron.

  “Darling, I know how hard the past six years have been for you. I’ve seen the wistful expression on your face when your friends come in here and sit talking and giggling. You want to be a part of it. You’re no different to any young person your age, Abigail, you want to have fun. So, I’ve made a decision which I should have made a long time ago.”

  Alarm at the tone of her voice had my eyes locking on hers. Surely she wasn’t going to do something as drastic as selling the diner?

  “Mama?”

  Mama sucked in a deep breath and I knew what she had to say was important. “Beginning Monday, I’m employing the Widow Taylor. Maryanne is a good cook and beautiful baker; she will be a huge asset to our business. With her husband passing, the money is needed and when her sister learned of my offer, she offered to take care of John.”

  Widow Taylor, Maryanne, had lost her husband, Josiah, in a tragic hunting accident a month earlier. His demise meant she’d been left to raise their four-month-old son on her own. Maryanne and her sister, Mariah, were close and the younger girl had been a huge support to her big sister and nephew. Their parents were unable to do much to help out due to their failing health and frailty.

  “Should Maryanne be working while she’s still in mourning?”

  “I thought about that before I offered her the position, but she assured me, Josiah would understand and said she couldn’t exist on handouts and fresh air. The community rallied around her when Josiah died, but the woman has too much pride to continue accepting their generosity.”

  “I understand and I suppose it’s not really any different to us working after papa died.”

  Mama nodded. “The townsfolk understood we had to continue on to survive and they’ll be as understanding with Maryanne. Times are changing and women working is becoming much more acceptable.”

  “Why hasn’t she sold the house and moved in with her sister and parents? I’m sure that would make it easier for her.”

  “There are only three bedrooms at the Minter house. Mariah has one, George and Sylvie have one each. Maryanne refused to encroach on her sister’s privacy, she prefers to stay in the house where there are memories of her and Josiah.”

  I nodded in understanding. “So what schedule have you worked out?”

  Mama withdrew a paper from her pocket. “You and Maryanne will work together on Mondays and Tuesdays. I’ll work with you on Wednesdays and Thursdays and with Maryanne on Fridays and Saturdays. Sundays, we will be closed.

  “Really? I’ll have Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays off?”

  Mama nodded. “I’ll have Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays off. We won’t know ourselves.”

  “Indeed, but can you afford it?”

  “Yes. The diner has been doing exceptionally well over the past six years since we expanded the menu. I’ve taken advice from Jed at the bank, so with investments and savings, we have enough to live comfortably for the rest of our lives.”

  “You can’t pay me and Mariah from your savings, Mama, you’ve worked hard for your money.”

  “Darling, the diner will cover all our wages and there will still be money to contribute to savings.”

  I smiled at mama. During the years, with working every day and buying only the basic necessities, I’d also managed to save a decent amount for the future. I would have been prepared to take a reduction in payment to make her plan work, I could see how excited she was about being able to have time to herself. I looked forward to it myself.

  “I think it’s a wonderful plan, mama. You’ll also be able to socialize and make new friends.”

  She lowered her eyes and I watched as a blush of color spread over her cheeks. I had the distinct feeling she was keeping something from me and my curiosity peaked.

  “Mama?”

  She gazed at me; a smile curved her lips. “Christopher Parker has been asking me to step out with him for almost a year. Every time he comes into the diner for supper, he asks when I am going to take some time out for myself. I have agreed to sit beside him at the church service tomorrow and after, we are going to take a walk together.”

  I flung my arms around her. “I’m so excited for you, mama. You deserve to be happy.” I kissed her cheek.

  “Are you all right with the changes I’m making, they affect your life as much as they do mine?”

  “Of course, I am. Tomorrow, after church, I’ll take the buckboard and visit Rowan out at the ranch. She’ll be excited when I tell her I’ll be working less, and we can spend time together.” I kissed her cheek again. “Thank you for being the best mother in the world.”

  With those words, I set about cleaning the kitchen, so we would be ready to close. Mama headed out to the dining room to check if the last of our customers had left. Once everyone was gone, the door would be locked, and tables cleared. Thoughts of Max and Mildred were temporarily set aside.

  MAX

  My eyes were drawn to the sway of her shapely hips as
Abigail stomped off to the kitchen. I wondered what I’d said to upset her; there was no doubt that I had. I’d known the woman long enough to know when she was unhappy about something. The change in her eyes when I’d mentioned Mildred had been noticeable – at least to me. Anger and jealousy had both clouded her gorgeous amber orbs. But why?

  Abigail and I had known each other since she’d started school, her and Rowan had become instant friends and spent most of their free time together. The two girls had been stuck to each other like bees to molasses and were always under my feet out at the ranch. It saddened me to watch as their friendship became distanced through no fault of their own.

  Since Abigail’s father had died, her visits to the ranch had come to a stop. Every waking hour seemed to be spent helping her mother in the diner and she was left with no time for social activities. I understood the fact she was needed by her mother, but it saddened me just the same. A young woman as beautiful as Abigail should have been out enjoying herself, stepping out with a beau. Heck, she should have been hitched with little ones by now as I’d told her.

  Why did the thought of Abigail being with a man send bolts of jealousy raging through me? I had no interest in anything other than friendship with her. Or did I? I swear the woman tied my thinking in knots.

  Saturday nights, when I had supper at the diner and at church on Sundays were the only times we managed to speak a few words to each other and I hated the thought I might have upset her. I resolved to take her aside at church the following day and find out what it was I’d said wrong.

  I finished the meal with Abigail on my mind and puzzled over why the lady constantly invaded my thoughts. I knew rumors were rife about me stepping out with Mildred, although they were a long way from the truth. The woman often joined us once she was finished on stage at the saloon and always sat beside me, a little too close for my comfort. I had considered having supper with her, but not if we were alone which was the reason I’d suggested Abigail and her beau dine with us.